At present, the environment facing China's foreign trade development is very favorable. The world economy and trade began to recover moderately, and the developed countries' economy and trade grew at a low speed, while the developing countries' economy and trade grew faster, much faster than the developed countries. Judging from the domestic economic situation, China's economy continues to grow at a high speed, the investment in fixed assets is accelerated, the scale of foreign investment continues to expand, the upgrading of economic structure continues to accelerate, and China's comprehensive economic strength continues to rise, especially the proposal of building a well-off society in an all-round way put forward by the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which has added impetus to China's sustained economic development. In this situation, the development of China's foreign trade presents some new features.
First, the new characteristics of current foreign trade development
(1) China's foreign trade has been growing rapidly and continuously, which has become the highlight of world economic and trade development. After China's accession to the WTO, the foreign economic and trade environment has been greatly improved, which has produced positive effects. In 2002, China's foreign trade developed rapidly, and its exports exceeded 300 billion US dollars for the first time, ranking fifth in the world trade power, and China's position as a world trade power was further consolidated. From June to July 2003, the total value of China's foreign trade import and export was 450.737 billion US dollars, up 37.9% over the same period of last year, of which exports were 228.409 billion US dollars, up 33.4% over the same period of last year, and imports were 222.328 billion US dollars, up 43% over the same period of last year, especially the growth rate and scale of exports in a single month were far greater than that in 2002.
(2) In 2002-2003, under the influence of tariff reduction in the world market and rising prices of fuel and raw materials, China's imports continued to increase substantially, but the impact on the economy was not only less than expected, but also played a greater role in promoting economic development. Generally speaking, China's entry into WTO has promoted the development of China's processing trade and the upgrading of China's economic structure. Since the reform and opening up, processing trade has become the main way to attract foreign investment, develop economy, upgrade economic structure and improve international competitiveness.
In 2002, the import of processing trade was179.937 billion US dollars, an increase of 30 1% over the previous year, accounting for 50% of China's foreign trade. Accounting for 54.6% of the total import growth. From June to July 2003, the import of processing trade reached 85.42 billion US dollars, up 32% year-on-year. Accounting for 23% of the import growth. Imports of processing trade equipment 1 1.42 billion USD, up 19% year-on-year. The proportion of advanced technology and scarce raw materials in imports has further increased. After joining the WTO, China's policy of attracting foreign investment has been improved and adjusted, and the structure of utilizing foreign investment has been further optimized. China's import management system and fair trade system have been further improved and played a positive role, and the import growth has enhanced the pulling effect on the economy.
(3) The structure of China's import and export commodities has been further optimized, and the import and export scale of manufactured goods has been continuously expanded, which has promoted the transformation of China's economy into an industrialized society, and the trade comparative advantage of China's manufactured goods exports has become more and more obvious. In recent years, with the transformation of China's economy to an industrialized society, China's manufactured goods exports have increased substantially, accounting for an increasing proportion of exports, which has become the main factor driving export growth. From the perspective of export structure, in 2002, China's exports of manufactured goods reached US$ 297.084 billion, an increase of 24% over the previous year, accounting for 96.5438+0% of exports. In the first seven months of 2003, the export of manufactured goods reached $209.6 billion, an increase of 34% over the same period last year. From the perspective of import structure, in 2002, China imported US$ 245,943.8 billion of manufactured goods, up by 24% over the previous year, accounting for 83% of the total imports. In the first seven months of 2003, the import of manufactured goods was 1, 82,343.8+billion US dollars, an increase of 40% over the same period of last year. From the perspective of trade balance, in 2002, the import and export surplus of China's manufactured goods was $51/kloc-0.50 billion, and the import and export deficit of primary products was $20.79 billion, which indicated that China's manufactured goods export had a certain comparative advantage, and the primary products were mainly affected by the imported materials of China's processing trade.
(D) Diversification of China's import and export trade. The export of processing trade has been the largest trade mode since 1995, and it has been growing at a high speed. In 2002, processing trade exports179.94 billion US dollars, up 22% over the previous year, accounting for 55% of exports, while imports122.22 billion US dollars, up 30%, accounting for the proportion of imports. From June to July, 2003, the export of processing trade increased by 365,438 0.5% year-on-year, and processing trade is still the main source of China's trade surplus and foreign exchange income. However, the growth rate of import and export of general trade mode and other trade modes has accelerated. General trade has always been an important trade mode in China. In 2002, the export of general trade was US$ 65.438+0362 billion, an increase of 265.438+0.7% over the previous year, accounting for 42% of the export. Imports were $ 654.38+029 1 billion, an increase of 654.38+03.8% over the previous year, accounting for 49% of imports. General trade used to be a deficit, but now it has turned into a surplus. From June 5 to July 2003, general trade exports increased by 35.2% and imports by 53.2%. As imports grew faster than exports, the trade deficit reached121900,000 US dollars. Although other modes of trade are still at a great comparative disadvantage, they are also developing rapidly. For example, in 2002, the export was 9.43 billion US dollars, up 38.9% over the previous year, and the import was 43.87 billion US dollars, up 265.438+0.3% over the previous year, with a trade deficit of 34.44 billion US dollars. From June to July, 2003, the export of other trade modes increased significantly. Among them, the export of small-scale border trade increased by 92% year-on-year, and the export of leasing trade increased by 147%.
(E) China's export market presents a diversified development trend. Since I joined the World Trade Organization, I have made full use of WTO rules, played an active role in the World Trade Organization, and actively promoted regional and world economic integration. China's export market diversification strategy has achieved remarkable results. In 2002, China's top ten trading partners were Japan, the United States, Hongkong, China, Taiwan Province Province of China, South Korea, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Russia and the United Kingdom, with a slight change compared with 200 1. Taiwan Province Province rose from the fifth place to the fourth place, and Malaysia rose from the tenth place to the sixth place. Malaysia is gradually becoming an important trading partner of China. China's exports to Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania are growing rapidly, while its exports to Africa and Latin America are still small and the growth rate is unstable.
Asian countries and regions have always been China's main trading partners. In 2002, China's exports to Asia17031500 million US dollars, an increase of 20.86% over the previous year, accounting for 52% of China's exports. In the first seven months of 2003, China's exports to Asia increased by 28% compared with the same period last year. China's exports to North American countries are growing rapidly. In 2002, China exported US$ 74.275 billion to North America, an increase of 29% over the previous year, accounting for 22% of China's exports. In the first seven months of 2003, exports to North America increased by 33% compared with the same period last year.
In 2002, China exported US$ 59.226 billion to Europe, an increase of 20.3% over the previous year. It accounts for 18% of China's exports. In 2003, the top seven exports to Europe increased by 50% compared with the same period last year.
In 2002, China exported US$ 9.49 billion to Latin America, an increase of 15% over the previous year, accounting for 3% of China's exports. In the first seven months of 2003, China's exports to Latin America increased by 22% compared with the same period last year. In the same year, China exported US$ 6.962 billion to Africa, an increase of 65.438+06% over the previous year, accounting for 2% of China's exports. In the first seven months of 2003, China's exports to Africa increased by 49% compared with the same period last year. In 2002, China exported US$ 5.29 billion to Oceania, an increase of 30% over the previous year, accounting for 1.6% of China's exports. In the first seven months of 2003, China's exports to Oceania increased by 37% compared with the same period last year.
(6) Although foreign-funded enterprises are still the main force of foreign trade export, with the private economy gradually developing into an important part of the national economy, foreign-funded enterprises are playing an increasingly important role in foreign trade. In recent years, the situation of attracting foreign investment in China is very good, which has greatly promoted the growth of China's foreign trade exports and the optimization of export product structure. Foreign-invested enterprises have always been the main force in China's export growth and export product structure optimization. In 2002, foreign-invested enterprises exported US$ 654.38+069.94 billion, an increase of 27.6% over the previous year, accounting for 52.2% of China's foreign trade exports. In the first seven months of 2003, exports increased by 40% compared with the same period last year.
With the gradual liberalization of China's foreign trade management rights, this year, China fulfilled its WTO commitments ahead of schedule, implemented a registration system for foreign trade management rights, and gradually released the potential of collective and private enterprises to develop foreign trade. In 2002, the export of collective enterprises was $654.38+08.86 billion, an increase of 32.6% over the previous year. In the first seven months of 2003, the export growth rate was 365.438+0%. In 2002, private enterprises exported US$ 654.38+03.78 billion, an increase of 6543.8+059.5% over the previous year. In 2003, the export growth rate of the United States in seven months was 654.38+0665.438+0%. The total export of collective and private enterprises accounts for 10% of the total export. The role of state-owned enterprises in export is gradually declining. In 2002, the export of state-owned enterprises was US$ 654.38+022.86 billion, with the lowest growth rate of only 8.5%, and the proportion of the total export decreased to 37.7%. In the first seven months of 2003, the export growth rate was 14%, which was still the lowest.
(7) Export Processing Zones are becoming a new growth point of China's foreign trade development. In order to promote the optimization of export structure, the state has strengthened the policy support and management of export processing zones, which has promoted the healthy development of export processing zones. In 2002, the total import and export value of China Export Processing Zone was US$ 4.74 billion, an increase of 4.3 times over the previous year. Among them, the export was $265.438+0.9 billion, an increase of 5.654.38+0 times; Imports reached US$ 2.55 billion, up 3.7 times. In the first seven months of 2003, exports increased by 457% compared with the same period last year. 90% of the products exported by the processing zone are mechanical and electrical products, among which computers and their parts are the main export products. In 2002, the export of computer equipment was $740 million, up by 1 1 times, and the export of computer parts was 102 billion, up by 33 times.
(8) The development of foreign trade in the central and western regions was accelerated. In recent years, the state has implemented the policy of developing the western region and given various preferential development policies to the western region. The scale of attracting foreign investment in the central and western regions has developed greatly, and foreign trade has increased substantially. The structure of export products has been improved and the ability to resist risks has been greatly improved. Despite the impact of the SARS epidemic this year, the exports of the central and western regions have increased substantially. In 2002, foreign trade exports of Henan, Hubei, Guangxi, Tibet, Gansu, Xinjiang, Jiangxi, Jilin and other provinces, cities and autonomous regions increased substantially. In the first seven months of 2003, Henan's exports increased by 4 1.5%, Xinjiang increased by 67%, Guangxi increased by 48%, Tibet increased by 66% and Hubei increased by 30%. Jiangxi's exports increased by 44%, Shanxi by 40% and Jilin by 33%.
Second, the current problems in the development of foreign trade
After China's accession to the WTO, it further reformed its economic management system according to its commitments and basic principles, and China's foreign trade management system was basically in line with international standards. At present, China's economy is still in the primary stage of socialist development, and the alternation of the old and new systems has made China's foreign trade development enter a turning point. Due to the imperfect management system, there are still many problems to be solved in China's foreign trade development:
(A) the prevalence of international trade protectionism has formed a major obstacle to the development of China's foreign trade.
In recent years, some developed countries have restricted imported products through various forms of non-tariff barriers such as environmental protection standards, quality standards, technical standards and health standards, and abused anti-dumping means to protect the domestic market. There are more and more international anti-dumping and safeguard measures against China's exports, which have seriously affected the development of China's foreign trade.
(B) The international competitiveness of state-owned export enterprises in China is generally low.
In recent years. China has made some progress in the reform of state-owned enterprises, but many enterprises, especially state-owned foreign trade enterprises, still have a long way to go to establish a modern enterprise system. At present, the layout of state-owned foreign trade enterprises is too scattered, inefficient and lacking in core competitiveness. The debt burden is serious and the balance sheet is deteriorating. The decline in the export growth rate of state-owned foreign trade enterprises largely illustrates this point.
(C) China's export market, labor-intensive products low-price competition is serious, and the foreign trade operation order needs to be improved urgently.
With the gradual liberalization of foreign trade management rights, more and more enterprises are heading for the international market. But to some extent, it leads to blind competition, low-price competition and lack of credibility. The main body of export low-price competition is industries and enterprises seriously affected by the source of "excessive, low, scattered and chaotic" production. The phenomenon of low-price competition in China's exports is particularly serious in developing countries and countries with underdeveloped market systems.
(D) The quality of foreign trade development needs to be improved, and the mode of export growth is still extensive.
In 2002, exports increased substantially, but in terms of specific commodities, export prices continued to fall, while export volume increased substantially. This situation is particularly prominent in traditional labor-intensive products. Export growth is still dominated by low-cost and low-price quantitative growth.
(e) China's policies and systems to encourage foreign trade development still need to be further rationalized.
China's policy of encouraging foreign trade development should be in line with international standards and remain stable, which is the condition for the sustained and rapid development of foreign trade. At present, some subsidy policies still do not conform to international norms. Although some policies are in line with international norms, they cannot be implemented stably. For example, the export tax rebate mechanism is not perfect and can't keep up with the needs of foreign trade development.
(6) The e-commerce market needs to be standardized and managed urgently.
In recent years, many overseas businessmen have taken advantage of some domestic people's eagerness to get rich and the irregular management of China's e-commerce market to develop illegal pyramid schemes in China through overseas international business companies and the Internet. Many people have been cheated by themselves, bought many imported high-priced goods, and cheated their relatives and friends. This has led to the loss of private property of many people, the loss of national customs duties and value-added tax, and great losses to the economic interests of the state and individuals.
III. Countermeasures and Suggestions
In order to promote the healthy and smooth development of China's foreign trade, in view of the above problems, we put forward the following countermeasures and suggestions:
(A) state-owned enterprises should speed up the restructuring and reform.
State-owned foreign trade enterprises came into being in a specific environment and background, and played a great role in meeting market demand and national economic development. Under the condition of market economy, state-owned enterprises, as the product of planned economy, should improve and reform, realize diversification of investment and equity, and carry out various forms of restructuring and reform.
(b) China's subsidy policy to encourage foreign trade development has been further improved, in line with international standards.
According to the regulations of the World Trade Organization, it is strictly forbidden to subsidize exports. Therefore, in the future, China's subsidy policy to encourage exports must be adjusted by economic levers such as exchange rate, interest rate and tax rate. In the future, China government subsidies should be invested in primary production factors, basic theoretical research and high-tech development. The abundance of talents and high technology is an important guarantee for enterprises to improve their competitiveness in the international market, but enterprises lack funds and cannot bear the risks brought by high-tech investment. Therefore, it is necessary for enterprises to subsidize the investment and development of basic education, higher education and scientific research in various forms to improve their international competitiveness.
(3) The state should pay attention to the imbalance of foreign trade, strive to diversify the export market, increase imported raw materials and high technology, meet the needs of the domestic market, and promote the development of the national economy.
From an economic point of view, it is perfect for an economy to develop without hurting others. If the excessive imbalance of bilateral trade causes excessive pressure on the other side, it will cause trade friction. Solving the problem of bilateral trade imbalance is a very important issue in the development of China's foreign trade. It is necessary to continuously explore potential markets, especially to increase exports to countries with trade surpluses in China. According to the domestic market demand and the increasing population demand in China, we should increase the import of raw materials and high technology. Judging from the rich elements, China is a country with a shortage of resources and high technology, and it has increased the import of resources and high technology. It is conducive to the development of China's national economy, the upgrading of industrial structure and the improvement of China's international competitiveness.
(D) Vigorously develop the export of products from China's advantageous industries, and transform products with comparative advantages into products with competitive advantages.
With the development of the world economy and the continuous improvement of consumption level, the concept of consumption is also changing, and people's demand for goods is also changing. China's traditional export products can't meet the needs of market competition. Efforts to improve the quality and grade of export products, increase the variety of colors, meet the needs of different markets and levels, and constantly develop new products to meet the changes in consumer demand are one of the important tasks faced by Chinese enterprises. In order to realize the transformation from comparative advantage to competitive advantage, enterprises in China should strive to introduce high-tech from abroad to make up for their own shortcomings, and combine high-tech with traditional industries in China to improve their international competitiveness. At the same time, we should attach importance to the development of science and technology, increase investment in scientific research, constantly develop new products, improve production efficiency, and constantly improve the non-price competitiveness of our products in the international arena.
(5) Strengthen the guidance and coordination of export prices and standardize the management of export markets.
Establish and strengthen the role of intermediary organizations in export markets, and strengthen the guidance, management and coordination functions of chambers of commerce. According to the experience of other countries, many countries not only have laws to regulate export markets, but also coordinate and manage intermediary organizations. Export enterprises must accept coordination to prevent low-price competition and cannibalism. In order to strengthen the management of the market, our government or chamber of commerce should establish an intermediary organization in the export market, supervise, guide and coordinate the market price, and punish enterprises that compete at low prices, so as to create a fair competitive environment and normal business order.
(6) Standardize and legalize the e-commerce market.
International e-commerce challenges the traditional tariff system and has an increasingly important impact on the tariff systems of various countries. Our government should issue the "E-commerce Management Law" and related laws and policies as soon as possible. Take practical measures to manage effectively through international coordination. The national macro-management institution of e-commerce should coordinate all relevant government departments, such as customs, Ministry of Commerce, State Commodity Inspection Bureau, taxation and industrial and commercial administration departments, jointly manage the e-commerce market effectively and severely crack down on illegal pyramid selling through the Internet.