2. Literature Review The thesis is concerned about APEC and China-ROK FTA, so the resources about these two aspects should be touched. Although Chinese and overseas scholars have done a lot of researches about China-ROK FTA, there are less theses studying the APEC and China-ROK FTA at the same time. Some scholars have paid attention to APEC and FTA and they attained many results. Recent regionalism is caused by two idiosyncratic events multiplied by a domino effect (Baldwin, 1993: 1). The Chinese scholar used this concept, believing that “Domino effect” is an important reason causing a rapidly growing competition of FTA within APEC (Lv Xiaokun, 2014: 134). Many scholars have researched the Hub-Spoke structure and its influences on regional trade. Scholars in China have done lots of researches about the reasons for obstructing the process of China-ROK FTA. One reason is that America is an economic giant. The relationship between America and South Korea is superior to that of America and China. America use TPP and US-ROK FTA to slow the steps of China-ROK FTA (Li Xuewei &Wu Hao, 2013: 63; Cao Shigong, 2012: 31-32). The other reasons include negotiation of sensitive products of China and South Korea, pressure from South Korean media, etc. The reasons for promoting the process of negotiation of FTA are also researched by many scholars, which include reasons of economy, policy and culture. What’s more, China-ROK FTA just finished the negotiation in 2014, which is going to be signed and come into force in the latter half of 2015. Many scholars have done some researches about the prediction of China-ROK FTA. At that time, the China-ROK FTA hasn’t been drafted. Nowadays, their researches are not the latest and not comprehensive enough. There are few researches about the prediction of China and South Korea’s trade based on FTA. Li Xuewei and Wu Hao predict that after China-ROK FTA coming into force, consumers in China and South Korea will get more abundant goods at low prices, the Chinese consumers are expected to increase the welfare of 0.03% ~ 0.23%, South Korea consumers’ welfare will increase 0.64% ~ 1.98% (2013: 66). Based on the above researches, this thesis analyzes the China-ROK FTA in the background of APEC. Taking 2014 Beijing APEC summit as a turning point, it discusses the obstacles for negotiation of China-ROK FTA before 2014 and the factors promoting the negotiation and signing of China-ROK FTA. The latter part of the thesis gives the possible influence of China-ROK FTA on China and South Korea. 源:自*优尔`%论,文'网·www.youerw.com/
3. Purpose of Establishing APEC and its Influence on China-Korea Trade Established in 1989 with 12 member countries, APEC has made great strides in facilitating and improving trade among its member countries. Now APEC is a cooperative effort of 21 countries with a common goal of improving free trade in this region. Its members include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, China; Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Republic of the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore,
China Taipei, Thailand, United States of America, and Vietnam (Wallace, 2003: 1). In the first decade after its creation, the economies of its members accounted for 70% of global growth economy. Between 1989 and 1992, APEC met as an informal senior official and ministerial level dialogue. In 1993, former United States President Bill Clinton established the practice of an annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting to provide greater strategic vision and direction to cooperation in the region (Jin Guanghao, 2009: 9). 3.1 Purpose of Establishing APEC Since established, APEC has worked to establish anti-protectionist policies in its member nations, to create efficient domestic economies and dramatically increasing exports. APEC focuses on three main areas, including trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, and economic and technical cooperation. In the first area, APEC works to reduce tariffs and remove other obstacles to free trade. In the second area, the goal of APEC is to facilitate business interactions between members by reducing the cost of doing business, sharing trade information and improving the relationships of importers and exporters. In the third area, APEC tries to improve member nations’ training and education in international trade.