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Dazzling Designs Lift Mood at Paris
Fashion Shows
China, US Sign Textile Trade Agreement
Garment Export Sees Rise in Unit Price
Chinese Embroidery Exhibition Opens in
Hungary
Chinese Embroidery Exhibition Opens in
Hungary
The Most Controversial Figure in Taiwan
- Li Ao
'Fashion Design Valley' Opens in Shanghai
Traditional Arts and Crafts
China, US Start 4th Round of Textile
Talks
Qixi -- the Chinese Valentine's Day
The Ewenki Ethnic Group
US's Limits on Curtain Opposed
EU Agrees to Stop Probe into Chinese Textile
Exports
Shanghai Student Wins
Design Contest
Nose for Danger, Dogged Love Saves a
Family
Fur Targeting Men Flourishes
Solar Energy Becomes Popular Choice in Tibet
Solar Energy Becomes Popular Choice in Tibet
Yiwu Enjoys Golden Prospects
Supporting Laid-off Women in Beijing
Real Art, Folks
China Extends Greater Care for HIV-AIDS Carriers
Youth Joins DIY Bandwagon
Art Training Enriches Children's Lives
Folk Art Expo to Be Held in Northeast China
Anhui Province
Laid-off Women Get New Jobs
Seesaw life
Self or Private Employment Women's Best Bet
China's Big Eco-transformation Within Decade
The Ewenki Ethnic Minority
pet toys
hand knitting and crochet
Active Summer for Shanghai Elderly
Prehistoric Chinese City Brought to Light
Ways China's Wealth Flows into the US
Cola Bottle Clothes to Save Environment at
Shanghai Festival
Humidifier
World's Costliest Wool Fibre Fold out in
Shanghai
Plan Helps Jobless Women
Japanese War Orphans in China
Ang Lee's Film Premieres at
Venice
Police Crack Knifed Boy's Case
Trade Negotiations Not Zero-sum
Game
Long Road to Government Reform
Public Speaks Out About Income
Tax
US Copter Under Fire in Iraq;
GI Killed
Public Speaks Out About Income
Tax
Suicide Bombing Hits Israeli
City
Limousines Sell Well in China
Despite High Prices
Actions Initiated by the All-China
Women's Federation
NPC Revises Securities Law,
Company Law
Romans in China Stir up Controversy
NPC Revises Securities Law
48 Confirmed Dead in Peru Air
Crash, 52 Survive
NPC Revises Securities Law
Banner of Diplomacy Stressed
WWII Veteran's Reminiscent Journey
Back to China
Corruption Has to Stay Capital
Crime
Nurturing the Art of Tea
Art Class Tailored for Poverty-stricken
Children
Review File Based on 'Biased
View'
China Quarterly Update -- August
2005
Police Appeal After Uni Break-in
Students Get Close-up Views of
Pandas
Han Hong
Girl's Hair Raising Stunt for
Poor
Israel Kicks off Pullout
Guangdong Air Quality Takes Turn
for Better
Giving Rewards for Returning
Lost Property?
Mother Tongue Helps Raise Success
Rate
Proposed Surveillance Bill to
Be Sent to Legco
Private Businesses Need Help
from Government
Second Biggest European Bank
May Buy into Bank of China
Politically Correct' but Wrong
All the Same
Beijing's Housing Price Falls
in June
Liulichang -- Antiques Street
Discovery Astronaut Completes
Shuttle Repair
Marriage: a Career Obstacle?
Nissan Begins Exports of US-made
Minivans to China
Road to UN Reform to Be Winding
Iraq's Constitution Committee
Vows to Meet Deadline
New Tax Law Needed to Narrow
Income Gap
The Yugur Ethnic Group
The Yi Ethnic Group
The Tibetan Ethnic Group
The Tajik Ethnic Group
The Oroqen Ethnic Group
The Hani Ethnic Group
New Tax Law Needed to Narrow
Income Gap
The Tujia Ethnic Group
Constitution Writers Consider
Delay
Deadlocked Nuclear Talks Extend
into Weekend
Huge Folk Instruments Apply for
World Record Status
Survey Reveals Just How Mobile
Chinese Are
Talks of North Korea, US Come
to 'Substantial' Phase
Innovative Entrepreneur
Second-day Nuclear Talks See
Little Progress
Students United in Birthday Greetings
Taiwan DPP's Ideology Hinders
Fruit Trade
Firm Gets EU Market Economy Treatment
Diving: Hu Jia Wins Men's 10m
Platform
US Charity Fund to Aid Disabled
Children in Xinjiang
US Charity to Aid Disabled Children
in NW China
Will New Round Break Deadlock
of Nuclear Talks?
Five Movies Compete for China
Oscar Nomination
Nigeria to Release Taylor to
An Elected Liberian Govt
Polish Reporter Who Died in Anti-Japanese
War Remembered
Provisional Quotas on Textiles
to EU in Effect
HK Robotic Claw to Help Deep
Sea Exploration
China Back into Golden Form
Top LNG Ship Takes Shape in Shanghai
Top LNG Ship Takes Shape in Shanghai
Curbs on Housing Market Praised
Volunteering Goodwill
China, US Discussing Textile
Tensions
Kidnapped Egyptian Diplomat Killed
in Iraq
Winners All if HK Hosts Games
Event
China's First Lady of Long Hair
Reveals Scalp Secret
Baghdad Gunmen Target Foreign
Diplomats
Letters Reveal Einstein Defensive
over Atomic Bombing
Ahmadinejad Plays Class, Religion
Cards to Win Election
Trouser Makers Warned of Limits
US Accusations over Birth Policy
Baseless
Investors Toast BoCom Debut
Public Gain Access to 'Cultural
Revolution' Files
Deputies Experience Court Life
First Hand
Boeing Losing Dominance in China
Cold Reception for Shenhua IPO
EU Strives to Lift Arms Embargo
Against China
Sima Qian -- Man of Record
Video of Saddam's Questioning
Released
Vice Premier Urges to Minimize
Flood, Drought Loss
Tsang Rallies Masses, Touches
Hearts
Iraq,
Kuwait Agree on Exchanging Diplomatic Missions
A Heritage Worthy of Protection
Liverpool Win Champions League
Title
China Risks Becoming
World Hi-tech Waste Bin
Chinese Girls Launch Assault
Nationwide War on Pollutants Expands
Push for Market-oriented
Bankruptcy
Nationwide War on Pollutants
Expands
Push
for Market-oriented Bankruptcy
Vogue Knitting has been
Chinese Museums on Edge of
Survival
Finger-pointing Does More Harm
Than Good
Asia Joins Hands for New
Century
Farmers Take to the Stage
Why Fortune Global Forum Chooses
China for Three Times?
Automakers Eye China
Chinese Working Overtime
Working Overtime Prevails in
China
Reduce Waste in Development
Incorporate Gov't and Market Roles
PBC Issues Regulations on Financial
Bonds Issuance
Nation Searches for Its Novel Soul
Israel to Rethink Gaza Pullout
If Hamas Win
Beijing Demands Better Policing:
Blue Eyes on China
Israel Freezes Prisoner
Releases
Saving Endangered Folk Art
US-China Summits' High Stakes
Insurgents
Strike Across Iraq, Killing 50
Lien to Make Xi'an Homecoming
Auto Sector Growth Sustainable
Hong Kongers Warm in Response
of Tenure Interpretation
Confucius Tree Carved into
Treasure
Arsenal Beat Hotspur to Leave
Chelsea Waiting for Glory
Rockets Down Mavs 98-86
Credit Guarantee
Market Draws Overseas Investors
My
Teacher and Helpmate
Lebanon New PM Vows to
Maintain National Unity
Calls to Form United
State Drug Policy on the Rise
Small Car Sales Challenge
Carmakers
Sohu Buys Map
Service Site Go2map Inc
Paradise for
Housing Speculators May Be Lost
Corruption
of Grassroots Officials Calls for Attention
Far from the Maddening
Crowd
Legislator Turns
out to Be Robbery Suspect
NPC Version Vital for CE Bypoll
Shanghai Strives to Cool
Property Prices
Disabled Dance Troupe
Condemns Copycats
Shuangliu Airport
Expects Listing
Magic Pen Writes New Computer
Tech Chapter
China's Global Research Mission
Township Governments
Face Role Shift
Rhythm of Ethnicity Moves a
City
Vegetable Prices Jump 53% in
Shanghai
Astronauts Complete Swift Space
Walk
Capgemini: China
to Become Biggest Auto Making Center
Living
History
Japan Urged to Face
War-time Past
Premier: Anti-Secession
Law to Advance Cross-Straits Ties
Company Plans Overseas
Foray
Violin Maker Pulls the Right
Strings
Gunmen Break up Fatah
Party Meeting
Chinese Taipei Beat Indonesia
in World Volleyball Qualifier
Trackside Medics, Fitness
Alerts Mark Xiamen Marathon
Indonesian Court Sentences Terror
Chief
French Finance Minister
Wants to Quit
Investment Opportunities Studied
Bedding
T-shirt
Yarn Dyed Style
Evidence Points to Child-Labor
Law Violation in Shanghai
Sell Gloves
Yarn Dyed Style
Knitted Sweaters
Japan Drops Anti-China-Imports
Plea
Bringing Hope to Tomorrow
Fei: A Master in Kite Making
Project Offers New Jobs
Telecom Draft Law on the
Right Tracks
Happy Though Less Blessed
Fashion to Fit the Age
A Person's Place in a Harmonious
Society
Beijing But Not as We Know It
Writer Chi Li
Ba Jin: a Centenary Literary Giant
China to Introduce Electronic
GPS Maps in Cities
Gov't Eyes Medical Aid for
Low-income Residents
Cloak Trade Keeps Traditions Alive
WEF Addresses Tsunami
Tough Lessons of Life
Aweave in Time
Bamei Village -- Peach
Blossom Valley
Plans Advanced for Silk Road Revival
Weavers Paid Great Price for Yunjin
Brocades
Yiwu Enjoys Golden Prospects
Legislator Stresses NPC System
Abracadabra Magicians Materialize
in Beijing
French Aerobatics Team to Twirl,
Spin Skyward in Beijing
French Aerobatics Team
to Twirl, Spin Skyward in Capital
Latest Travels in the Realms
of Gold
Beijing Waiting for Torch from
Greece
Nation Plans IPR Protection Strategy
A City of Stone
Memory of Dynamic Yunnan
Batik Art
Warrior for Peace
Health Crises Require a Regional
Response
'The Year of the Bear'
Ancient Banyan Village
A Feast for the Eyes
Festival Provides Rural Life Experience
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Trade Negotiations
Not Zero-sum Game
Gao Hucheng and David Spooner, Chinese and US chief negotiators on textile
trade, shook hands Tuesday again in two weeks when they started the fourth
round of Sino-US talks on textile trading.
Just on Monday EU trade officials left Beijing for home to report to
EU headquarters after talking with their Chinese counterparts trying to
find a way out of an awkward situation -- dealing with the millions of
items of China-made clothing blocked in the customs of European countries
for exceeding import quotas.
It seems China has been haunted by frictions with other trade partners,
in particular trade rows on its quality textile products.
The disputes prompt many Chinese business people, manufacturers, retailers
and exporters alike, who have just caught up with the trade rules their
developed peers have been preaching, to sigh: Where has the spirit of
free trade gone? Why are the market forces not allowed to play their due
role?
Even foreign observers have acknowledged that China has been abiding
by WTO rules well since it entered the World Trade Organization (WTO)
more than three years ago. While encouraging domestic enterprises to "go
out," it is opening its own market to foreign enterprises strictly
in line with its commitments to the WTO, generally regarded as a global
family of free trade.
Compared with developed WTO members, China understands better the nature
of protectionism: a double-edged sword in world trade if abused.
In June this year, when the EU limited the growth rate to 8 to 12.5 percent
for China's export of 10 categories of textile products in the next three
years, it meant to protect its own textile industry and workers. But to
the surprise of the EU, the two-month-old agreement has backfired at home.
Amid concerns that the quotas may do more economic harm than good, Brussels
is now facing growing calls for their relaxation. Retailers say unless
the quotas are eased, consumers may end up paying more for clothes hastily
sourced from elsewhere. They may also face fewer choices.
Leading EU newspapers have also blamed protectionism for the current
textiles trade situation, saying it's unfair to developing countries like
China, which should have the right to fair competition with their advantageous
industries.
The restriction on China's textile exports has not only damaged China's
textile industry, which employs 19 million workers. What should be borne
in mind is that in a world of economic globalization, each country has
a comparative advantage in producing goods for which it has more sources
or higher productivity than other countries. It is difficult to find a
final product that comes exclusively from a single country.
Protectionism is a manifestation of fear of "zero-sum" interactions,
which don't apply to world trade. One's gain is not necessarily made at
the expense of some others' loss. Rather, all parties can benefit, creating
a "win-win" game.
Commercial disputes are inevitable in economic and trade exchanges. But
different measures bring about different outcomes. When disputes occur,
what kind of attitudes should the parties concerned adopt? Consultation
instead of confrontation and dialogue instead of unilateral action are
the best ways to solve disputes.
Sino-US trade shares the same pattern.
The US needs a better understanding that it benefits a lot through Sino-US
trade. America could lose a low-priced supplier base and a vast market
if it sours relations with China.
Inexpensive Chinese-made children's wear, for example, helped American
parents save US$400 million between 1998 and 2003, according to a Morgan
Stanley survey.
In fact, for every item of Chinese textiles exported to the US, more
than 80 percent of the profit goes to US businesses, while Chinese factories
and workers have to live on limited earnings.
On the other hand, China has emerged as one of the world's biggest consumption
markets, and a major contributor to world economic growth in recent years.
More important, the Chinese government is willing to maintain a balanced
relationship with all its trade partners, as has been evidenced by its
recent revaluation of the yuan, a move demonstrating courage and wisdom.
It should also be noted that China and western countries are at different
stages of development, and so are the goods they sell. The huge amount
of textile products is not that terrifying if you've heard of the comparison
made by Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai: China has to sell 800 million
shirts to buy a Boeing or an Airbus airliner.
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