French media has criticized us! While we have taken the opposite approach, exempting tariffs on an increasing number of African country products, French media has used this as an opportunity to criticize us. French media claims that China's announcement of reducing tariffs is not enough to ease these countries' criticisms of China's "trade imbalance." French media states that China is mainly interested in raw materials, which have low added value and cannot provide promising job opportunities for local youth.
China, however, hopes that these countries will open their doors to its manufactured goods to maintain its factories' operations and ensure domestic employment. French media says that if China is unwilling to share its successful value chain, it will soon find that its rise has caused significant "disappointment" among even its so-called friends. What does this criticism from French media mean? First, China not only needs to offer tax exemptions but also needs to balance trade with these countries.
Secondly, Chinese companies should also localize production in other countries to boost local employment. However, the argument from French media is clearly absurd. Isn't it because our products are more competitive that we can export more industrial finished products to other countries? African countries are at the beginning of industrialization, most of them only have agricultural products, and raw materials can be exported to us, and we import their raw materials duty-free. Does this not create job opportunities for these countries?
The so-called balanced trade is essentially a rhetorical trap. The essence of trade is mutual benefit; we can sell more, while others can sell less, and trade surpluses or deficits are just natural results of the two countries' industrial structures. Now that we have become stronger in industry, French media has changed its attitude and no longer mentions free trade. Furthermore, why does French media demand us to share the value chain we have successfully climbed? Isn't whether we share it or not entirely up to the enterprises' own decisions?
Chinese enterprises are willing to invest in expanding production in other countries, or continue to produce domestically, and they have the right to make decisions. In fact, Chinese enterprises are investing more and more overseas, but whether they choose to produce locally, manufacture locally, or consume locally depends on the level of local manufacturing capabilities. French media remains silent about the US imposing tariffs and setting up barriers, and ignores Europe's long-term practice of only buying raw materials from African countries without increasing investment in Africa. What right does French media have to lecture us?
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836582646307851/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.