Since the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), China's foreign trade has been constantly changing with the development of society. 1949 began to advocate the closed-door strategy, 1972 advocated the import substitution strategy, 1978 advocated the coexistence of import substitution strategy and export-oriented strategy, and 1994 advocated the complete opening strategy.

20 10 the Ministry of commerce issued the "research on China's foreign trade development strategy in the post-crisis era", proposing to achieve the goal of becoming a trading power by stages by 2030, that is, to consolidate China's position as a trading power by 2020 and keep forging ahead with it; Basically achieve the goal of a strong trading country around 2030. This research report clearly points out China's determination and strategy to develop into a trading power, and points out the corresponding policies; 20 10, the "second forum of major trading countries" was successfully held in Beijing Technology and Business University. The forum pointed out that in order to become a trading power, six conditions must be met: a highly developed economy, participation in international division of labor, large-scale trade in goods, large-scale opening up, large-scale foreign direct investment, and high proportion of trade in service products.

In addition, there are two climaxes in the research summary of China's foreign trade development strategy. First, after the global financial crisis broke out in 2008, the wide-scale opening of trade protectionism had a great impact on China's foreign trade. At that time, foreign trade strategy research was mainly against trade protectionism. For example, Geng Liping put forward the urgency of adjusting China's foreign trade strategy in 2008, Zhang Liancheng discussed how to choose China's current macroeconomic policies in 2009, Liu Fang 20 10 pointed out a series of problems in implementing the export-oriented trade strategy, and Su Fen 20 10 analyzed the influence of China's foreign trade on the interests of big countries. Second, after the negotiation of 20 13 US-Europe Free Trade Area began, China's large-scale open regionalism once again impacted China's foreign trade, which attracted wide attention from the academic circles. For example, Weng Aiyun emphasized in 20 13 that the premise of implementing free trade strategy and trade protectionism is that the central government enjoys independent sovereignty, and Hu Angang proposed in 20 13 to build mutually beneficial trade based on peaceful development.

Second, the review of British and American foreign trade strategies and its enlightenment to China.

With the rapid development of capitalism in some countries, the development of foreign trade has become more and more rapid, and it has almost become the main channel for countries to contact each other at this stage. In the process of rapid development of capitalism, Britain and the United States are the most representative countries in foreign trade strategy. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the foreign trade strategies of Britain and the United States for China to change its foreign trade development strategy.

(A) Review of British foreign trade strategy

More than 200 years ago, after Columbus discovered the New World, the era of navigation began, and mercantilism prevailed in Europe. Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations was also published at that time. Under the influence of mercantilism, Britain paid more attention to export trade when formulating foreign trade strategy, restricted import trade to a certain extent, and controlled foreign trade activities through foreign trade control. Britain's fishing and shipping industries have gradually become its reserve naval forces, and the resources of the colonies have been continuously exploited. At that time, Britain's foreign trade strategy not only showed the characteristics of mercantilism incisively and vividly, but also made full use of military power to escort foreign trade. Britain has gradually consolidated its position as a maritime hegemon and established its leading position in international trade. The outbreak of the British industrial revolution indicates that it will fully implement the strategy of free trade and take free trade as the main means of foreign trade. The Wealth of Nations emphasizes the freedom of economy and trade. Although Adam Smith does not support state intervention in the economy, he never denies that military forces protect foreign trade. He believes that the main responsibility of the national government is to protect social security and prevent the invasion and violence of other independent societies. If necessary, it must be done by force. It can be seen that the reason why Britain has become a maritime hegemon and further become a world economic power is inseparable from its military strength's full support for its foreign trade strategy.

(B) Review of US foreign trade strategy

Alexander hamilton formulated relevant foreign trade policies in the early days of the founding of the United States. He believes that the United States is a young country and cannot compete directly with manufacturing countries with rich practical experience. Therefore, he strongly supports Liszt's view of trade protection, and advocates the implementation of import tariffs and restrictions on raw material exports, so that export enterprises can get corresponding subsidies and sponsorship to a certain extent. Although the United States supported trade protectionism at that time, it also had its distinctive characteristics: First, the American-style trade protection strategy was highly targeted, that is, the protection strategy was only aimed at established manufacturing countries such as Britain, but it also reflected the free trade strategy facing American countries. This behavior has a strong Monroe doctrine color, taking the United States as the sphere of influence, attaching importance to cooperation with American countries and opposing European interference in American affairs; Secondly, on the basis of advocating trade protectionism, we attach importance to "regional cooperation" and "import substitution", which is not determined by its economic situation, but influenced by the size and geographical location of the United States; Third, attach importance to military and legal forces. At this point, like Britain, Hamilton attached great importance to the US navy and merchant fleet. But at the same time, he advocated using the power of law to protect foreign trade strategy. Hamilton hopes to demonstrate the strength of the US Navy in the West Indies and surrounding waters. Although Hamilton didn't finish this idea in the end, these thoughts still influenced the foreign trade strategy of the United States for a long time, which greatly influenced the diplomatic strategy of the United States. The foreign trade strategy and diplomatic strategy of the United States pay equal attention to military force and legal force, which is not only the progress of the United States, but also worth learning from China's foreign trade strategy.

After two world wars, many cities, talents, industries and agriculture in Europe were destroyed, and the United States became a superpower almost in an instant. After that, the economic strength of the United States developed very rapidly, not only expanding the scope of foreign trade strategy, but also completely transforming into a free trade strategy. The United States uses NATO to control Western Europe militarily, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization to control the world economy financially, and even the establishment of the global financial system is centered on the US dollar. The United States is not only a big country that formulates international trade rules, but also one of the countries that benefit the most from world trade. Although the United States advocates "free trade" in many fields, it will advocate "protectionism" when it comes to high technology and other fields closely related to American interests. Since the new century, the foreign trade strategy of the United States has two characteristics: one is to transfer some leading industries and control both ends of industries. Affected by objective factors such as industrial upgrading, in order to maintain its free trade strategy, the United States voluntarily gave up industries such as TV manufacturing, pots and pans, clothing, shoes and hats, and moved to China, Japan, Southeast Asia and other regions. It can be found that the United States has given up mainly manufacturing, but for agriculture, energy, resources, high-tech and other industries, the United States is still in its own hands, because as long as the two ends of the industry are well controlled, even if some industries need to be transferred, the United States can still control the entire industrial chain; Second, attach great importance to the use of financial instruments such as interest rates and exchange rates. 1992 the United States uses the exchange rate to enhance its trade competitiveness. 1998 continue to control the economic lifeline of southeast Asia by financial means. In 2008, it once again used a series of financial means to turn the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States into an economic crisis in Europe.

Three, China's new foreign trade strategy and policy recommendations.

(A) the new foreign trade strategic connotation

In the process of China's foreign trade development, the export-oriented strategy lasted for a long time, which had a long-term impact on China's later economic development. Although the overall economy of China is relatively prosperous due to the rapid growth of export trade, many problems have also been exposed under the influence of the international financial crisis. China must formulate new strategic objectives according to the actual situation, and maximize the benefits of international trade in the process of constantly adjusting and improving the terms of trade. The connotation of China's new foreign trade strategy mainly includes three aspects: First, determine the target. The primary goal of China's foreign trade strategy is to "strengthen the country and enrich the people", that is, foreign trade should not only promote "strengthening the country", but also benefit the 654.38+0.3 billion people in China, and the two promote and restrict each other. Only by realizing "strengthening the country" and "enriching the people" can we further promote the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Second, the way to choose. Generally speaking, if countries' economic development is in a prosperous period, their trade strategies will be freer, and if they are in a recession or recession, their trade strategies will be more protective. As China is a big producer, China's economy and the global economy promote each other, and China's economy cannot be separated from the global economy, which is also accelerated by the development of China's economy. Therefore, China should focus on the free trade strategy, and on the basis of giving full play to WTO rules, oppose the implementation of protective trade under the green banner of environmental protection and low carbon; Third, choose the means. Any developed country or economic power will choose free trade strategy in its foreign trade strategy. Even if it chooses the trade protection strategy at the beginning because of conditions, it will eventually turn into free trade with the prosperity and development of the economy. In the process of changing strategy, China's foreign trade development needs the support of free trade policy and the combination of financial and legal forces to achieve better development.

policy advice

First of all, we should establish and improve an effective market economy system and relevant laws and policies according to China's actual economic situation and foreign trade situation. The relevant departments should abandon the unreasonable policies under the planned economy system in the past, re-establish the market order, and guide the industry to develop well in the market economy environment; At the same time, local governments also need to give enough support to related industries to form industrial clusters with a certain scale. For example, Silicon Valley in the United States and Modena, Italy, which is famous for its mechanical production, were in a certain state of chaos in the initial stage due to the lack of government leadership, and only under the guidance of the government did they resume their positive development. In addition, it is necessary to coordinate from many aspects, so that industrial policies and trade policies can seek common ground while reserving differences and achieve better coordination results.

Secondly, we should attach importance to the powerful role of multinational companies, and at the same time give play to the role of finance, and fundamentally implement the foreign trade strategy by adjusting the RMB exchange rate and related tools. Relevant state departments should scientifically and reasonably optimize the allocation of capital markets such as banks, significantly improve the investment efficiency of enterprises, give policy support to powerful multinational companies, encourage them to actively invest in China, and provide more sufficient sources of funds for foreign trade development.

Third, realize the balanced development of trade in goods and services and create a domestic environment conducive to trade development. By continuously implementing the upgrading strategy of processing trade and extending the trade industrial chain, China's foreign trade is not limited to a few coastal areas, but combined with the industrial structure reform in inland areas, the traditional processing trade industries are transferred inland, making coastal areas pay more attention to the optimization and upgrading of products.

Finally, pay attention to the coordination of trade policy and industrial policy, and implement the competitive advantages of foreign trade in technology, quality, brand and service. With the development of the times, high-tech-oriented industries have developed rapidly. China's foreign trade will achieve technological innovation and brand innovation, which will further promote trade development and increase foreign trade volume and economic benefits. Strengthen the research and development of important technologies and actively apply new technologies in basic disciplines such as environmental science and information technology to lay a solid foundation for the better development of China's foreign trade.

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To sum up, strategic trade is feasible for China, but as an intervening trade policy, there is an irreconcilable relationship between free trade strategy and trade protectionism under the premise of China's entry into WTO. At present, China, as the largest developing country in the world, has many constraints, although it is necessary to implement strategic trade policies. The author thinks that China's strategic trade policy should be carefully chosen according to the actual situation of China's economy and world trade.

For more professional analysis, please refer to the related professional report: China Foreign Trade Market Prospect and Investment Strategic Planning Analysis Report.