Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
What has happened to Chna's agrcultural trade snce ts accesson to
the WTO? Have there been any changes in the pattern of China's agricultural
trade and in its revealed comparative advantages in agriculture? If so,
what factors have drven these changes? Ths chapter examnes these
questons.
Classification of agricultural commodities and sources of data
In analysing agricultural trade, the first step is to identify the coverage of
agricultural commodities in international trade. Here, the classification of
agricultural commodities in international trade is based on the Harmonised
System (HS) of Trade Classification 1992. Table 11.1 presents the product
coverage used and the product coverage n the Uruguay Round Agreement
on Agrculture (URAA). The product coverage n ths chapter and n the
URAA is very similar. The differences are that here fish and fish products
are included, but HS Code 2905.43 (mannitol), HS Code 2905.44 (sorbitol),
HS Heading 33.01 (essential oils), HS Headings 35.01 to 35.05 (albuminoidal
substances, modified starches, glues), HS Code 3809.10 (finishing agents)
and HS Code 3823.60 (sorbitol n.e.p.) are excluded. The main reasons for
these inclusions and exclusions are that fish and fish products are very
mportant agrcultural products n Chna's trade whle the trade values of
those excluded are neglgble.
The agrcultural trade data for the perod 1992 to 2004 are from the
United National Statistics Division, Commodity Trade Statistics Database
(COMTRADE). Data for 2005 are from the China Customs Statistical Monthly
Report.
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All the values of agrcultural trade data presented here are at
2000 constant US$ prces.
For the purpose of analysing changes in the pattern of China's agricultural
trade, the data have been grouped in two ways. First, the data are divided
into five categories based on the nature of the commodities
cereals, edible vegetable oilseeds and vegetable oils
hortcultural products
animal products (including fish)
processed agricultural products (including processed fish products)
raw materals for textles.
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