法律化、制度竞争与亚太经济一体化的路径选择

Legalization,Institutional Competition and Path Choices of Economic Integration in the Asia-Pacific

作为推动亚太经济一体化的重要力量,中国和美国都着力在亚太地区打造自贸区网络,试图整合亚太经贸规则。由于两国自贸区策略在义务性、精确性和授权性等法律化水平上存在显著差别,客观上形成了亚太经济一体化的两种路径,其背后是美国和中国围绕贸易规则的国际制度竞争。对不同路径的选择与中国和美国在国际贸易制度中的比较优势密切相关。作为在位者,美国倾向于通过较高法律化水平的方式巩固自身的规则收益和治理话语权。作为进入者,中国则主要通过较低的法律化水平降低缔约过程的交易成本来获得伙伴收益。

As an important force to promote economic integration in the Asia-Pacific,China and the United States are striving to build a free trade area network in the region,trying to integrate the Asia-Pacific economic and trade rules.Because of the significant differences in the level of legalization,such as the dimensions of obligation,precision and delegation,between the two countries'FTA strategies,the two paths of Asia-Pacific economic integration are objectively formed.Behind it is the international institution competition of trade rules between the United States and China.The choice of different paths is closely related to the comparative advantage of China and the United States in the international trade system.As the incumbent,the United States tends to consolidate its own gains from rules and governance discourse by increasing the level of legalization.As an entrant,China gains partner benefits primarily through lower legalization levels to lower the transaction costs of the contract process.