Unraveling the mysteries of China's foreign trade regime : a view from Jiangsu Province

This paper provides an analytic discussion of China's complex foreign trade regime and suggests policy reforms. The paper pays special attention to the implementation of national trade policies at provincial and city levels. This is important for understanding developments in China's external sector because, during the 1980s, provinces began to enjoy a high degree of autonomy. The author draws specific examples at provincial and city levels form Jiangsu Province and Wuxi City. Jiangsu is one of the fastest growing provinces in China; it has also experienced a rapid growth in exports during the past 10 years. The paper provides a brief history of the developments in China's foreign trade regime. It discusses the major institutions responsible for China's foreign trade and outlines trade policies.