Chapter 68 13. International Trade

China has broken all the records and won the first place in world trade for itself!Despite the impact of the economic crisis, the total export volume has dropped significantly relative to the total import volume, and China's share in world trade is still increasing day by day, even surpassing Germany, which has held the top spot for several years. World trade refers to the exchange of goods, services, and capital between different countries and regions.This activity already existed in human society more than ten centuries ago. For example, the "Silk Road" is a well-known world trade activity in human history.

From the 3rd century BC (and continued for nearly 1,800 years after that), multiple commercial routes connecting Asia and Europe facilitated the exchange of goods: silk, spices, technologies of the time, and Chinese inventions such as the compass, Paper money, printing, etc. have been spread.Trade played an important role in Europe's economic take-off. World merchandise trade is not new.Modern businessmen have not created anything. If they must find out something, they just created some new "rules of the game": policies and regulations, international organizations, and the breadth, distribution, diversity and Efficiency limitations.

Just as the Silk Road did for commerce, international trade drives economic development, diversifies products, and creates new roles in economic activity.International trade values ​​innovation, encourages competition, stimulates the economy, facilitates the flow of goods and services, and the exchange of ideas. Therefore, despite some major changes in the process of economic development, international trade still contributes to the development and growth of active enterprises in the market and helps to consolidate the economic growth of the world.According to the report of the World Trade Organization, due to the impetus of China and other fast-growing developing countries, the total world trade volume will increase by 13.5% in 2010.

In China, the growth of exports has provided funds for the development and progress of the country, and has become a powerful lever for economic and social development.China not only has huge production potential, but also joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, all of which indicate that China's globalization process is accelerating.China has overcome the financial crisis in a very short period of time and has become the future leader of international trade. Despite the impact of the world economic crisis and financial crisis, China's trade activities with other countries in the world continue to move forward.

According to the data provided by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce of China, China's total import and export volume reached 2,215 billion euros in 2010, an increase of 34.7% over the previous year.Among them, imports increased by 23.2%, and exports increased by 10.3%. Due to the large demand for external raw materials and various energy sources, the growth rate of China's total imports is much higher than that of exports. Compared with 2008, the trade surplus has decreased by 36.8%. According to a report released by economists at Standard Chartered, by 2030, China's economic aggregate will reach twice that of the United States, accounting for 24% of the world's total.Currently, China's economy accounts for 9% of the world's total.

In 2020, China's total economic volume will reach 18,298 billion euros, higher than the 17,325 billion euros of the United States.Of course, in the big cycle of global economic growth, China will not be the only country whose total economic volume has increased. China has become the largest trading partner and largest exporter of Japan, ASEAN, Australia and South Africa. In addition, while strengthening trade activities with countries around the world, China is also the second largest trading partner of the European Union and the United States.The European Union, the United States and Japan have always been China's three major trading partners.

In 2010, China's trade volume in all parts of the world increased significantly ASEAN: +37.5%; Brazil: +47.5%; Russia: +43.1%; South Africa: +59.5%; India: +42.4%; European Union: +31.8%; United States: +29.2%; Japan: +30.2% China's trade activities on all continents and in most countries will continue to grow.For example, in 2009, due to the impact of the economic crisis, Sino-African trade was cold.In the second year, the trade situation was able to pick up again, and the trade volume rose back to 100 billion euros per year. China and Japan not only have disputes over the issue of territorial sea rights, but also have ups and downs in historical entanglements, and the competition on the battlefield of international trade has also entered a fierce battle.Not long ago, China replaced Japan, which ranked third in the world, in the economic field.

The growth of business and trade between China and India has promoted the reconciliation of the conflicts between the two sides to a certain extent, and has also eased the relevant talks between the two countries on territorial disputes. As for Sino-US relations and Sino-European relations, should we sit down and have a peaceful conversation or engage in a confrontation between giants?The three major economic groups are interdependent, and the relationship is hot and cold, which is both contradictory and complicated. China, the United States, and Europe sometimes compete with each other, and sometimes cooperate with each other to establish a new power relationship and a new world economic order.

However, with regard to China and other developing countries with rapid economic progress, people can't help but ask a question, are Westerners considered competent managers? It's nothing new for America to live on credit, but is it sustainable for long? On September 30, 2009, the debt of the United States had reached 8,717 billion euros, equivalent to 84% of the GDP of the year.It is estimated that by 2015, the external debt of the United States will reach 17 trillion euros. Meanwhile, the U.S. deficit is still growing.U.S. debt is mainly absorbed by Japan and China, and of course a small amount is shared by countries and regions such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Brazil, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

However, the reality of the trade deficit has not received enough attention from China, because it is not just China-related trade deficits that are at issue. As worrisome as the deficit is the enormous debt in the United States and Europe around the world.It is precisely because of this problem that the trade relations between Europe, the United States and China are always misunderstood.If the rise of China, an accumulator of wealth and a creator of jobs, is indispensable, the trade deficit generated during the trade process is very important for regions such as the United States and Europe that import more than they export, both in China and around the world. unfavorable.

In the course of global trade, companies in China, India and other emerging countries have engaged in a spree to acquire competitors. Out of fear of decline and loss of status as a great power, the United States and Europe have to give priority to developing their partnership with China. Over the past few decades, weak Europeans and sunsetting multinational corporations have helped China complete its transformation into a superpower.