Chinese Foreign trade performance and the China-US trade : 1995 - 2004 ; a graphical analysis based on China customs statistics

Using detailed Chinese Customs data, this paper prepares a series of graphs to illustrate the changing patterns of the Chinese foreign trade during the years 1995 and 2004. Combined with discussions on related literature and policy development during the same period, the graphs are organized (1) o establish links between FDI inflow and Chinese trade expansion, (2) to identify the regional and sectoral power horses of Chinese trade growth, (3) to sketch a picture of production sharing among China, its Asian neighbors and the United States, and (4) to highlight the institutional innovation of the Chinese customs regime that helps facilitate the process of global outsourcing to China. Special attention is given to the China-US trade when it differs significantly from the China world trade.