The Adaptation and Transformation of Yiwu’s Foreign Trade Enterprises Amid Major Changes Unseen in a Century (2001-2021)

Abstract

The world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. The profound and complex changes in the international trade landscape since China’s accession to the WTO have put China’s foreign trade enterprises to the test as they have embarked on a path of transformation and upgrade. As a barometer of China’s foreign trade sector, Yiwu has progressed through three stages of development: rapid development after China’s WTO accession, adaptation and innovation following the global financial crisis, and coordinated development amid deepening reforms. This paper explores such an evolutionary journey from the perspectives of foreign trade, market development, logistics infrastructure, export modalities, policy support, and the trade environment.