Measurements and Analysis of China's Comparative Trade Surplus:1994-2004

This paper designs and use the ratio of trade surplus to total value of import and export and the ratio of trade surplus to GDP and measures and analyses China's comparative trade surplus from 1994 to 2004. It makes clear that China's comparative trade surplus is now at a low level and there is an apparent downward trend. Meanwhile, there is a distinct divergence between the changes of comparative surplus in terms of total trade volume and in terms of GDP. It shows that there is no ground for some countries to blame China's trade policies, and that protectionism against China, if adopted, could only increase bilateral trade deficits.