According to the statistics of China Ministry of Commerce, from January to August this year, there were 17 countries (regions) in total, which initiated 79 trade remedy investigations against China, involving total amount of about US $10.03 billion, representing a year-on-year growth of 16.2 percent and 121.2 percent, respectively.
The trend of trade protectionism may still continue to spread. The WTO predicted in mid-July, the world is expected to launch 437 anti-dumping cases in 2009 and also could prove to be a year with the largest number of global anti-dumping cases in history. Comprehensive studies show that current trade frictions present some new features.
First of all, trade friction has extended from anti-dumping to various trade protection measures, including anti-subsidies, special safeguard regulations, 337 intellectual property investigations, technical barriers and trade means.
Second, with increased means of protectionism measures, trade frictions have extended from micro-level of targeting at one or a number of products at the macro-economic, institutional and system level, thereby extending the gamut of trade frictions to governmental levels.
Third, involvement of products and scope of trade frictions have gradually broadened, from goods trade to services trade, intellectual property, technical standards, environmental protection, from traditional industries to new industries. These news industries include steel, automobiles, communications equipment and chemical products.
The trade frictions between China and developing countries are increasing. Trade barriers set by India, Brazil, Argentina, Russia and other economies against China are increasing and more and more products and amount are being included under the ambit of trade protectionism.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - China