China

China: Water Policy Reforms

Water shortages in important grain-producing regions in China may significantly affect its agricultural production potential and trade patterns.

China's Agricultural Water Policy Reforms: Increasing Investment, Resolving Conflicts. and Revising Incentives
Changes are underway at all levels of China's water management system to encourage water conservation, but a variety of issues may limit the effectiveness of current water policies and reform efforts. Some crops, such as irrigated wheat, may see falls in production and a rise in imports.

China's Evolving Agricultural Sector

Shifts in production structure and policy developments bring about frequent changes in China's agricultural markets that may affect world markets.

China's Corn Exports: Business as Usual, Despite WTO Accession
China's corn exports continued at a near-record pace during 2002 despite cancellation of export subsidies following accession to the World Trade Organization. Other policies have replaced direct export subsidies, although details of these new measures are not clear.

China Increases Exports of Fresh and Frozen Vegetables to Japan
In the 1990s, China sharply increased its presence in Japan's import markets for fresh and frozen vegetables. The fast growth of Chinese frozen vegetable exports to Japan, however, does not yet pose a serious challenge to the position of U.S. frozen vegetables in Japan.

Market Reforms and Policy Initiatives: Rapid Growth and Food Security in China
China has made important gains in providing food security to its vast population, but over 100 million people still live on less than one dollar a day. The core policies China uses to promote food security—grain reserves, marketing and self-sufficiency policies—are expensive and do not effectively provide food security to poor rural households.

The Ongoing Reform of Land Tenure Policies in China
Economic transition, rapid economic growth, and increased integration into the world economy are propelling substantial changes in rural China. How farmers respond to changing economic opportunities and challenges depends critically on choices about use of land and other resources—choices that depend on land tenure patterns.

Small Town Development in China: A 21st Century Challenge
China is placing a high priority on urbanizing and raising the incomes of its huge rural population. The government is pursuing a strategy that seeks to channel rural people into small cities and towns rather than large cities. This strategy faces challenges in creating jobs for new residents and financing new town construction.

The China Program of USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) provides research, analysis, and information on China's agricultural policy, outlook, and trade to decisionmakers in the United States, China, and throughout the world. For more information and a complete list of publications, visit the ERS China Briefing Room.