Yeling Tan, Professor at Oxford University and PIIE, discusses China's entry into the WTO, contrasting SOE reform approaches, and the impact of revoking PNTR. They explore China's economic system challenges within the WTO framework, the US economy's costs in ending PNTR with China, and implications for global trade and leadership.
China's local governments innovate within a centralized communist system, impacting public services and transparency.
China faced challenges aligning with WTO standards due to its diverse economic structure, leading to internal debates on liberalization.
Understanding China's domestic politics is crucial in economic governance, highlighting competing state strategies and post-WTO policy shifts.
Deep dives
Understanding China's Evolving Political System
China has become one of the most significant nations of the 21st century, necessitating a deeper comprehension of its governance. Pekingology delves into China's changing political structure with guest Yelling Tan, discussing her book on China's state strategies. Tan traces her interest in China's political economy back to her experience in Singapore and college years, examining the country's rapid economic growth and political influences.
Exploring China's Local Government Experiments
Tan's initial exploration of China focused on local government initiatives within its authoritarian system. She observed the unique dynamic where a centralized, communist state enabled room for local governments to innovate in areas like public service delivery and transparency. This led to her publication on China's local government experiments and later research on transparency efforts in China's policymaking.
Analyzing China's WTO Accession
Tan's research delves into China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its implications on the country's economic and political landscape. She examines the challenges China faced aligning with WTO standards, especially given its diverse economic structure. The study sheds light on the internal debates surrounding liberalization and protectionism within China's bureaucratic system.
Disaggregating China Inc.: State Strategies in Focus
Tan's book, 'Disaggregating China Inc.,' challenges the conventional narrative around China's WTO entry by emphasizing the importance of understanding China's domestic politics in economic governance. It delves into the competing state strategies in China, ranging from directive to regulatory approaches, and highlights the complexities of policymaking within the country's unique economic framework.
Navigating the WTO Post-China Accession
Tan's analysis extends to post-WTO accession developments in China, focusing on the mid-2000s as a turning point in the country's economic policies. The discussion delves into the shift towards a more statist approach in China's political economy, questioning the timing and factors behind this transition. Tan also reflects on the challenges and implications of potentially revoking China's Permanent Normal Trade Relations status.
Assessing the Impact of Revoking PNTR on China and the US
Exploring the repercussions of revoking China's PNTR, Tan emphasizes the far-reaching consequences on both the US and China. The discussion highlights the economic, political, and multilateral implications of such a move, stressing the importance of considering domestic impacts, global alliances, and the broader trading system. Tan underscores the need for nuanced policy debate and a thorough understanding of the complexities involved in trade relations with China.
In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by Yeling Tan, Professor of Public Policy in the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University. She is also a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. They discuss her book Disaggregating China, Inc.: State Strategies in the Liberal Economic Order. (Cornell University Press, 2021)
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