外贸摩擦、合群抗争与产业升级——以20世纪20年代苏州丝绸业为中心

International Trade Frictions,United Resistance and Industrial Upgrading:A Focus on the Silk Industry in Suzhou in the 1920s

1924年7月,日本宣布施行奢侈品进口税案,再次对华绸进口征收高额关税,引发严重的中日贸易摩擦。以日本、朝鲜为主要出口市场的苏州丝绸业首当其冲,产销大受冲击。为抗议日本政府横加重税,苏州丝绸业通过苏州总商会率先发难,以上书请愿、集会宣言、发布通电、游说当局等种种形式进行群体抗争,并得到上海总商会、中华国货维持会、江浙丝绸机织联合会等工商团体的大力支持和声援,掀起了合群抗争的风潮。在抗争日本增税的过程中,苏州丝绸业又一次变压力为动力,化危机为转机,实现了行业面貌的重塑,完成了自身的改良升级。

Japan' s announcement that it would levy import duties on luxury goods in July 1924 involved imposition of a high tariff on imports of Chinese silk and led to serious trade frictions between China and Japan.The Suzhou silk industry,with Japan and Korea as its main export markets,was the first to be affected as it saw a slump in production and sales.On behalf of the Suzhou silk industry,the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce took the lead in protesting against the wanton imposition of this heavy tax by signing petitions,holding rallies and making declarations,publishing open telegrams and lobbying the authorities,etc.As a result,they gained strong support from business groups such as the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce,the Chinese Domestic Goods Support Association,and the Joint Silk Weaving Association of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces,and sparked a wave of united resistance.During the course of this resistance,the Suzhou silk industry once again turned pressure into a driving force and crisis into an opportunity,reconstructing the character of its industry and achieving upgrading by its own efforts.