Chinas Move to Preferential Trading: An Extension of Chinese Network Power?

John Ravenhill, Yang Jiang

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Abstract

China is a latecomer to preferential trading agreements (PTAs), choosing to complete its accession to the WTO before embarking on negotiations for preferential agreements. Since 2001, China has become a very active player in such agreements, currently having concluded treaties or being in the process of negotiating them with close to 30 partners. China’s approach to PTAs is characterized by pragmatism; rather than following the American and European practices of using a template for all partnerships, China has been willing to tailor agreements to the specific relationships it is pursuing. Like other governments, China has a mixture of motives in pursuing PTAs. In some relationships, diplomatic/strategic considerations are paramount. In others, China seeks to pursue various economic interests, one of the most significant of which has been security of supply of raw materials. China’s various motivations in PTAs are examined through three case studies: the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement with Hong Kong; the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area; and the negotiation of a PTA with Australia.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationFrederiksberg
PublisherAsia Research Centre. Copenhagen Business School
Number of pages34
Publication statusPublished - May 2007
Externally publishedYes
SeriesCopenhagen Discussion Papers
Number18
ISSN0904-8626

Bibliographical note

Paper presented at the International ChinaWorld conference at the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies at Durham University, ‘Made in China vs. Made by Chinese: Global Identities of Chinese Business’, on 19-20 March 2007

Keywords

  • China
  • Preferential trading agreements
  • ASEAN
  • Australia

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