US-PRC TRADE-RELATED NEGOTIATIONS IN THE 1990'S: TWO-LEVEL GAME ANALYSIS AND EXPLANATIONS

In: Issues & studies: a social science quarterly on China, Taiwan, and East Asian affairs, Band 32, Heft 4, S. 60-88

Abstract

THE AUTHOR ANALYZES THREE SETS OF BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC) IN THE 1990'S: THE PRC'S MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION, AND THE PRC'S ENTRY INTO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. THE KEY QUESTION IS HOW CAN ONE EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT OUTCOMES IN THESE THREE VERY SIMILAR CASES. THE FOLLOWING VARIABLES ARE CRUCIAL TO THE EXPLANATION: (1) CONFLICTS OVER THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK; (2) THE DEGREE OF CONGRUENCE, OR CONFLICT, BETWEEN AMERICAN DEMANDS AND CHINA'S INTERNAL AGENDA AND POLICY PRIORITIES; AND (3) THE EXISTENCE OR NONEXISTENCE OF SUPPORT COALITIONS ON BOTH SIDES.