Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Trade pattern and comparatve advantage n Chna's agrculture
The drect mpact of WTO accesson on a gven sector wll show n changes
in its trade flow. To help assess the trade impact, it is useful to look at
China's agricultural trade pattern since the 1980s. The statistical code in the
Chinese customs data collection changed from the SITC to the HS system in
1992, causing difficulties in the observation of trends in agricultural trade
over the last 20 years or so. A cross-codng system has been produced to
facltate analyss of the data for Chnese agrcultural trade n a consstent
way throughout the 1980s (Lu 2000).
Figure 3.1 reports data on Chinese agricultural trade. There are clearly
postve trends n exports and mports of agrcultural products. Exports
increased from about US$4 billion in the early 1980s to a peak level of US$14
billion in the mid 1990s. However, exports declined significantly as a result
Figure 3.1 China's agriculture trade, 1981-99 (US$ million)
16000
14000
12000
export
mport
net export
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
-2000
-4000
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
Year
Source:
China General Administration of Customs, various issues,
China Customs
Statistical Yearbook
, Zhongguo Haiguan Chubanshe, Beijing; China General Administration
of Customs, various issues,
China Customs Statistical Yearbook
, Zhongguo Haiguan
Chubanshe, Beijing.
