China's NDRC Rebuts Subsidy Claims, Citing 95% of US Firms Backing Market Competitiveness
Updated
Updated · Global Times · Jun 18
China's NDRC Rebuts Subsidy Claims, Citing 95% of US Firms Backing Market Competitiveness
1 articles · Updated · Global Times · Jun 18
Summary
China's top economic planner on Thursday rejected an international institution's claim that Chinese companies' global gains in key sectors mainly stem from government subsidies, calling that view one-sided and wrong.
Li Chao, an NDRC spokesperson, said China's industrial strength instead comes from four drivers: a huge and highly competitive domestic market, a complete manufacturing system, long-term investment in education and R&D, and a steadily improving business environment.
A US-China Business Council report was cited as support, with 95% of surveyed US companies saying China's diverse testing scenarios and intense competition are vital to their global competitiveness.
The NDRC also pointed to structural advantages including more than 180 million business entities, over 220 million skilled workers, 11.3 average years of schooling for people aged 16-59, and a 61.3% higher-education enrollment rate.
Beijing paired the rebuttal with a broader message, opposing the politicization of trade issues and urging cooperation to keep global industrial and supply chains open, stable and efficient.