The Foreign Trade of China: Policy, Law, and Practice is a comprehensive study that delves into the complexities of China's foreign trade since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The book explores the institutional frameworks, laws, trade policies, and practices that have shaped China’s trade relations, particularly with the United States. The study is especially relevant in the context of the normalization of Sino-American relations in the 1970s, a period when trade became a central avenue of communication between the two nations despite political tensions. Gene T. Hsiao examines China's foreign trade objectives in relation to broader policy goals, offering insights into the various state trading corporations, legal contracts, and dispute resolution mechanisms that govern trade in China.

Hsiao provides a detailed account of China’s economic exchanges, using a wide range of sources, including government documents, trade agreements, and interviews with officials and business executives. He also discusses the challenges faced by American businesses attempting to engage with China, particularly the unique negotiating style and the Chinese reluctance to adapt to capitalist marketing techniques. Despite these challenges, Hsiao highlights the satisfaction many American traders have experienced in their dealings with China, emphasizing the growing importance of trade as a means of fostering Sino-American relations. The book offers both an academic and practical guide for understanding the intricacies of China's foreign trade and provides crucial context for those looking to navigate the complexities of trade with one of the world's most influential economies.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1977.