Technology Transfer in the People's Republic of China: An Assessment

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the trading relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China is its explosive growth over the last fifteen years. In 1973, the total value of bilateral trade between the U.S. and China was $805 million (up from a mere $5 million just two years earlier). In 1987, this figure reached $10.4 billion - an increase of over 1000 per cent. This growth notwithstanding, the United States is not a commanding presence in the PRC's overall trade picture.

The U.S. share of total PRC imports in 1986 (almost $43 billion) is only 7 .2 percent, and the PRC accounted for only slightly over 1 percent of U.S. imports.