issuing time:
On December 11, 20 years ago, China officially became the 143rd member of the World Trade Organization. In the past 20 years, China’s economy has developed rapidly, its geopolitical power has increased, and the tension between China and the West has also increased. China is trying to From the world‘s factories to high-tech transformation, the West has increased cooperation to respond.
Join the WTO
The West is worried about the rise of China. After 15 years of negotiations, China finally reached an agreement with the United States and the European Union to formally join the WTO on December 11, 2001.
After entering the 21st century, Western countries have gradually become soberly aware of China’s economic rise and the increase in its strength in geopolitical relations.
In 20 years, China’s GDP has increased by 8 times and has become the world’s second largest economy. Its share in the world economy has increased from 4% in 2001 to 17.4% in 2020. China’s exports of goods have increased by more than 7 times. It has become the world’s largest exporter, and no country has been able to expand so rapidly. It shipped 2.5 trillion US dollars of goods at the Shanghai port alone, and its imports increased by 740% during the same period. China has become many countries in the world. China’s first economic partner accounts for 13% of the world economy. In addition to minerals and agricultural products, China’s foreign trade advantages are prominent, and cheap labor has promoted China to become the “world factory”.
The cost of entering China
But for foreign companies, if they want to enter the Chinese market and enjoy China’s cheap labor costs, foreign companies have to carry out technology transfer in accordance with the Chinese government’s regulations. The regulations of the Chinese government that these foreign companies need to implement have nothing to do with the standards that WTO members comply with. Western countries have gradually discovered that the Chinese government heavily subsidizes state-owned enterprises.
The Economic “Echo” pointed out that foreign criticisms of China’s business practices are increasing. The United States accuses China of not fully fulfilling its WTO commitments and using unfair competition methods. Take advantage of these trade agreements. Unlike the West who hoped that China could gradually become a free capital market after joining the WTO 20 years ago, China is now a capitalist country controlled by the government.
China and 14 Asia-Pacific countries signed the world’s largest regional economic and trade agreement in 2020. China continues to promote the Belt and Road Initiative and expand its influence in Africa to protect the security of its energy supply. At the same time, China’s vigorous expansion of armaments shows its In males in the Pacific, China’s economic and geopolitical footprint is increasing, leading to tensions with the West.
Western response
As tensions between China and the West have intensified, especially as the confrontation between the United States and China has intensified, the Sino-US trade war has intensified, with high tariffs between China and the United States, and high technological barriers.
Now, Western countries including the United States, the European Union, Canada and other countries have assembled their influence and resources to deal with China.
The French presidency of the European Union in 2022 will further promote strategic cooperation between the European Union and countries in the Indo-Pacific region. The European Union has recently restarted free trade negotiations with India.
Following the official start of trade negotiations between Canada and ASEAN on November 16 this year, the news that Canada has held four “video consultation meetings” with India on November 28 will soon launch the Canadian-Indian free trade negotiations that have a history of more than ten years.
If China wins the first round by virtue of its advantages in the manufacturing field, it is not guaranteed to win the second round. It is to become a technological hegemon in the digital age. In this field, China’s competition with the United States and the European Union has already begun.
.