China’s alfalfa market and imports: Development, trends, and potential impacts of the U.S.-China trade dispute and retaliations

This study examines the development and trends of China’s alfalfa market and imports, identifies key factors for the rapid increase in China’s alfalfa imports, and discusses potential impacts of the U.S.-China trade dispute and retaliations on the alfalfa markets and trade in both nations. China’s rapid transition toward larger-scale commercial dairy production, with enhanced feed and cost management as well as quality and safety control, and its limited resources for high-quality alfalfa production are key factors for the dramatic increase in its alfalfa imports, from 19 601 metric tons in 2008 to 1.38 million metric tons(mmt) in 2018. While the United States dominated China’s alfalfa imports with an average share of 97.01% from 2007 to 2017, the share dropped to 83.76% in 2018 and 63.28% in January 2019 due to the trade dispute and retaliations started in 2018. China will likely remain a large importer of alfalfa because of both its growing demand and the comparative advantages of imported alfalfa in quality and price, but the imports from the United States will be highly affected by the ongoing trade dispute and negotiations. China is also expected to make more efforts to reduce its dependence on U.S. alfalfa through increased investment in domestic alfalfa production and identification of alternative sources of alfalfa and other hay imports.

A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis of Benefits Distribution in China-U.S. Trade during 1978-2007

The Sino-U.S. trade imbalance and the related debate on RMB appreciation have attracted much attention in recent years. Judging objectively, however, the trade imbalance does not necessarily result in an imbalance in the distribution of trade benefits. By analyzing the distribution of benefits in Sino-U.S. trade from 1978 to 2007, this paper finds that bilateral trade has brought positive benefits to both sides, differentially in terms of production and consumption. Simply put, China has gained benefits for production yet suffered in terms of consumption, whereas the opposite is true for the U.S.. Moreover, even during periods in which the U.S. experienced a trade deficit, its citizens gained larger total individual benefits than those in a period of trade surplus. We argue, therefore, that appreciation of the RMB would reduce the trade benefits for both sides by almost the same margin, bringing little benefit to the United States.

Phase-One Trade Deal Signed by China and U.S.

A phase-one trade deal was signed by China and the U.S.on January 15.Tariff relief,increased agricultural purchases by China,and an agreement on intellectual properties and technology issues were part of this phaseone deal.The U.S.agreed to roll back on tariffs currently in place over several phases.Following months of trade tensions and negotiations,the trad e deal bodes well for the world’s two largest economies into the first quarter of 2020.

Comparison of Corn Production Costs in China,the U.S. and Brazil and Its Implications

This paper analyzes the corn production cost in China, the U.S. and Brazil from 1997 to 2014. According to the results,（1） corn production cost in China is the highest among these three countries;（2） the rapid growth of labor cost and land cost is the major factor that promotes the increase of total corn production cost in China;（3） the level of agricultural mechanization in China has been gradually improving, and the gap between agricultural mechanization levels in China and other two countries is constantly narrowing;（4） differing from the U.S. and Brazil,China exhibits a ＂high input, low output＂ agricultural production mode. Based on the above analyses, corresponding suggestions have been presented to reduce corn production cost in China.

On China's Foreign Trade Development and Linkage with the Customary Rules of International Trade

Although great differences exist between the trade systems of different countries,internationaltrade must go on in line with the customary international trade rules.As China’s economy developsand the socialist market economic system emerges,China is basically qualified to link up withcustomary international trade rules.In the Ninth Five-Year Plan period,China’s reform of its foreigntrade system aims at setting up a trade system that conforms with international trade practice.Forthe purpose,the author of this article suggests that a neutral trade policy should be adopted inaccordance with the international practice since it does not hinder exports,nor restrict imports toan excessive degree.

China-US High-Tech Competition,Trade Conflict and Development Rights

The power and interest of industrial manufacturers are determined by their status in the relations of production.At the international level,countries see their economic and political status rise only when they climb the ladder in the international division of labor.As the primary production forces,science and technology are the main drivers behind such change.As new technologies give rise to new industries and restructure the international division of labor,developed countries strive to enhance the protection of their intellectual property rights(IPR)and safeguard their monopoly over core technologies.For developed countries,technological prowess holds the key to their supremacy in the global supply chain and international relations.The 19 th CPC National Congress makes clear the overarching goal in the new era is to rejuvenate the Chinese nation and turn China into a strong modern country.As an important material condition for achieving this goal,China must transition from being medium-and low-end links in the international division of labor to becoming high-end links.In this process,China will encounter backlash from developed countries that lead in the international division of labor.The recent China-US tussle over trade in high-tech goods is a case in point,and should be viewed through the lens of the relations of production and the international division of labor.The insights thus achieved will be of great significance to China’s future development.

Assessment of China's International Environment and U.S. Strategic Trend

It is of great significance to have a clear understanding of the international environment that China faces. But this is an uneasy job. Since September 11, the world situation has become so complicated that it is hard to grasp its essence even with painstaking efforts. To judge such an already complicated international environment from China’s perspective adds more difficulties, for different people usually have different views due to the different angles from which they see the situation and different methods they adopt. This, understandably, leads to hot debates within the Chinese academic circles. To provide a stage for exchange of views, at the invitation of the CIR Expert Forum, some well-known scholars and experts on international relations from Beijing gathered to hold a symposium on November 5, 2002, with the theme of "How to assess the international environment that China faces". The speeches at the symposium will be published in two installments. Following are the first half.

U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement: Reasons, impacts, and China's response

Applying qualitative and quantitative methods, this article explains the driving forces behind U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, assesses the impacts of this withdrawal on the compliance prospects of the agreement, and proposes how China should respond. The withdrawal undercuts the foundation of global climate governance and upsets the process of climate cooperation, and the impacts are manifold. The withdrawal undermines the universality of the Paris Agreement and impairs states' confidence in climate cooperation; it aggravates the leadership deficit in addressing global climate issues and sets a bad precedent for international climate cooperation. The withdrawal reduces other countries' emission space and raises their emission costs, and refusal to contribute to climate aid makes it more difficult for developing countries to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Cutting climate research funding will compromise the quality of future IPCC reports and ultimately undermine the scientific authority of future climate negotiations. China faces mounting pressure from the international community to assume global climate leadership after the U.S. withdraws, and this article proposes that China should reach the high ends of its domestic climate targets under the current Nationally Determined Contributions; internationally, China should facilitate the rebuilding of shared climate leadership, replacing the G2 with C5. Meanwhile, China needs to keep the U.S. engaged in climate cooperation.

Enlightenment of Cultural Innovation in the Park of China from the Park Development of U.S.A. and Singapore

This text combines authors＇ visits and examinations on the spot of Silicon Valley of U.S.A. and Park of Singapore, after analyzing the Park development experience of U.S.A. and Singapore, elucidates ＂three culture effects＂ of Park development in terms of cultural system emphatically, then proposes some suggestions of cultural innovation in the Park of China.

EU vs. U.S. , Russia and China

Since George W. Bush assumed the presidency in early 2001, a tense situation had occurred in the relationships among world big powers. In the aftermath of September 11,significant improvement has been made in Sino-U.S. and Russia-U. S. relations. In the meantime, corresponding changes have taken place in EU-U. S.and Russia-China relations.

China-U.S. Trade Agreement Needs Further Bilateral Cooperation

One of the events this Spring Festival is the signing of the phase-I trade agreement between China and the U.S.in Washington D.C..This agreement covers a wide range of issues including intellectual property rights,technology transfer and financial services.It also includes China’s commitment to make an additional purchases of U.S.goods and services with the value of USD 200 billion between 2020 and 2021.According to statistics from the U.S.Ministry of Commerce,U.S.exports to China amounted to USD 130.37 billion in 2017.

ADJUSTMENT IN CHINA'S INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURE AND ITS FOREIGN TRADE

Of its total export volume,the proportion of China’s new andhigh technology products and highvalue-added products is extremelylow. Its pure technological exportrate is only 2 percent of the total.Therefore,along with thetransformation of the mode ofgrowth of China’s nationaleconomy, a corresponding growthmode transformation should takeplace in its foreign trade sector,and it is necessary to achieve asignificant change in its importand export product mix.

An Indissoluble Bond Between China's Foreign Trade and Me

In the inaugural issue of China’s ForeignTrade magazine in 1956, my articleintroducing China’s arts and crafts andtwo photos were published. Hence anindissoluble bond has existed between it andme. In the past four decades, I, as a loyalreader and a warm writer, have always paidclose attention to its growth. In 1980, I wrotean article to introduce the exports of ceramics,winning good results. From then on, dozensof my articles have been published in it. Allhave obtained better economic results. Owing to my familiarity with theceramics business, I have used it to introducenew varieties and traditional varieties, famousproduction places and advanced enterprisesdealing with ceramics. Such information

China's Foreign Trade Enterprises and Modern Enterprise System

Foreign trade enterprises in China are now reviving up their efforts in transforming their foreign trade operational mechanism in line with the requirements of a socialist market economic structure, and State enterprises are being restructured into modern enterprises. Over the past few years, Chinese foreign trade enterprises have undergone progressively deepening reform, changing from carrying out State mandatory planning during the early days of reform into self-governing and profit-

MOFTEC Minister Wu Yi on China's Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation

The structure of China’s foreign trade now conforms basically to international trade norms China will set up a legal system for foreign trade and economic cooperation in three years Foreign investment enterprises will enjoy national treatment China shall become the member of the World Trade Organization at the earliest possible

An Analysis of China's Trade Balances with Other Countries and Regions

This article utilizes a large amount of statistical data to analyze the global distribution of foreign trade in China since 1990,as well as the factors involved and the changes in trends.The research results indicate that China has gained a favourable balance against developed countries and a disadvantageous balance against developing countries;China enjoys a trade surplus with North American and European countries while suffering deficits with those in the Asia.pacific region,as well as with resource-abundant Australia,Africa and South America. With regard to trends,the structure of China’s foreign trade will not undergo fundamental changes in the short term,but in the long run will be transformed in line with restructuring of the growth pattern.

China's Processing Trade Development for Mechanical and Electrical Products

Since the launch of the economic reform and opening to the outside world, China has seen rapid growth in its export of mechanical and electrical products, with its export

Accreditation System of Distance Higher Education in the U.S. and Its Implications for China

Distance higher education is an important component of the Chinese higher education.How to enhance the quality of distance higher education is one of the key issues to be addressed in the research areas of distance education and higher education.As a crucial step to quality improvement,the constitution of accreditation system in distance higher education balances the benefits of all parties involved.This paper explores the American accreditation system of higher education and distance education and concludes with suggestions for the constitution of the Chinese quality assurance system:1)establishing third-party institutions to share part of the government roles;2)constituting the accreditation system;3)setting up appropriate standards;4)publicizing results of quality assurance work;and 5)building internal quality assurance mechanism.This paper is aimed to provide some reference to the constitution of accreditation system of distance higher education in China,facilitate the solution of quality problems in distance education,and promote the continuous improvement and development of distance education in China.

Lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic response in China,Italy,and the U.S.:a guide for Africa and low-and middle-income countries

Africa can be"left behind"after other advanced continents recover from the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic as reflected by the global pandemic of HIV/MDS.In this paper,we summarize potentially adaptable,effective and innovative strategies from China,Italy,and the U.S.The purpose is to help African countries with weaker healthcare systems better respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.China,being the first to report COVID-19 infection swiftly swung into anti-epidemic actions by the use of innovative risk communication and epidemic containment strategies.Italy and U.S.,the next rapidly hit countries after China,however,experienced sustained infections and deaths due to delayed and ineffective response.Many African countries responded poorly to the COVID-19 pandemic as evidenced by the limited capacity for public health surveillance,poor leadership,low education and socioeconomic status,among others.Experience from China,Italy and U.S.suggests that a better response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Mrica needs a strong public health leadership,proactive strategies,innovative risk communication about the pandemic,massive tests and isolation,and scaling-up community engagement.Lastly,African countries must collaborate with other countries to facilitate real-time information and experience exchange with other countries to avoid being left behind.