China: protectionism is no cure to crisis

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-10 00:27

BEIJING -- As the "Buy America" provision raises alarms against trade protectionism among state leaders and economists, China on Monday said "no" to a similar plan that bans foreign products in domestic stimulus projects.

Job seekers read job listings at a job fair in Beijing, China, Sunday, February 8, 2009. As the "Buy America" provision raises alarms against trade protectionism, China on Monday said "no" to a similar plan that bans foreign products in domestic stimulus projects. [Agencies]

"We won't practice 'Buy China'," said Vice Commerce Minister Jiang Zengwei at a press conference. "We'll treat domestic and foreign products equally as long as they are needed."

The US Senate last week voted to soften, not remove, a provision in its roughly US$900 billion stimulus plan that requires all public works projects funded by stimulus dollars to use only US-made iron and steel.

The provision has invited concerns from major trading partners of the United States, including Europe, Canada and Japan. Economists warned it could trigger trade wars.

China on alert

"Why should we turn to trade protectionism under the current situation (of global financial crisis)?" said Jiang, noting that it's impossible to meet a country's demand with only domestic products in the course of globalization.

China must be wary of a possible protectionism, said Zhang Xiaoji, a foreign economic relations researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council, a think tank under the Cabinet.

The country, which relies heavily on it's exports, will suffer a heavy blow if trade protectionism gains influence in the face of deepening global crisis, said Zhang.

Exports, which account for about a third of China's total economic output, saw consecutive year-on-year declines in November and December as foreign orders dwindled.

"We should not only oppose trade protectionism in other countries but also support global trade ourselves," said Zhang, suggesting opening up domestic market wider as China's trade surplus remains large.

He told Xinhua China's own massive stimulus package will "certainly give a shot in the arm to the country's imports."

China unveiled a 4 trillion-yuan (US$586) stimulus plan in November to boost domestic demand and prop up growth.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said earlier this month the government will send a purchasing group to Europe for importing advanced equipment and technology.

During the week-long trip to Europe, he called on nations to guard against trade protectionism, saying China will not purposely seek a trade surplus.

With that move, China sent a clear signal of opposing trade protectionism and call for other countries to join the battle, said Zhang Yansheng, director of the International Economic Research Institute under the National Development and Reform Commission.

Major economies like China and the United States should take on the responsibility of making themselves examples of resisting trade protectionism, said Zhang Hanlin, head of the China Institute for WTO Studies with the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE).

"We'll buy your goods if you buy products from us," he said. "The bigger you are, the heavier the duty you have."

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