The US decision to file cases with the World Trade Organization
against China over intellectual property rights (IPR) and access to
the Chinese publication market clearly shows that protectionism is
rising in the world's No 1 economy.
If US policymakers do not do their best to resist such
pressures, they will not only fail to fix domestic economic
problems but also risk damaging economic cooperation and trade
relations with China.
In fact, actions against China could trigger an outbreak of
massive protectionism that could seriously undermine global
economic growth.
Under congressional pressure over its ballooning trade deficit,
the US government announced on Monday that it would take China
before the WTO over suspected trade barriers and piracy of books,
music, videos and other goods.
Such action ignores the fact that the Chinese government has
been making unremitting efforts to strengthen IPR protection. Its
achievements and ongoing efforts are obvious.
Part of the nation's development, the Chinese government has
attached unprecedented importance to IPR issues in recent years.
That is why the Ministry of Commerce expressed "great regret and
strong dissatisfaction" at the US decision.
The US move has run against the consensus between the countries'
leaders on developing bilateral trade relations and properly
handling trade problems.
Worse, the move came as the latest in a string of protectionist
actions the United States has taken against China. Last month, the
US Department of Commerce announced a preliminary decision to
impose countervailing duties on imports of glossy paper from
China.
While such protectionist moves may appeal to some US industries
or interest groups for a while, they do nothing to promote the
restructuring the US economy needs to reduce its budget and trade
deficits.
China is keenly aware of the necessity of reducing its reliance
on investment and exports. And it is working hard to change its
growth pattern with concrete efforts.
The United States should also boost domestic efforts to reduce
its budget and trade imbalances. Protectionism will not be the
solution but part of unsolved problem.
(China Daily April 11, 2007)
