An Analysis Of The Protection Policy Of Overseas Economic Interests In The United States

With the Opening-up and Reform constantly deepening, China’s economic interestsare increasingly extending. It becomes a pressing issue for the government, enterprisesand scholars of China as to how to cope with the risks and challenges during theextension. Developed countries are experienced in protecting their overseas economicinterests, among which the US is the most representative. Research on the policies andpractice of American safeguarding its overseas economic interests will provide Chinawith references in the concerned field.According to the research of Chinese and foreign scholars, the definition of“overseas economic interests” is discussed. And the thesis is based on the broaddefinition of the term including overseas assets, overseas earnings, free trade,involvement in rules formulation, safety of economy-related personnel and theinternational image of one country. The history of American protecting its overseaseconomic interests can be divided approximately into four phases: pre-WWⅠ, fromWWⅠ to WWⅡ, post-WWⅡ and post-Cold War. Through analyzing the differentialfeatures and representative cases in each period, the most notable characteristics of theAmerican practice can be concluded. It enlightens China to some extent that the USbenefits from manipulating the formulation of global economic rules, strengthening thecoordination between public and private sectors, using its domestic laws tocounterbalance adversaries and putting the strategic interest above specific economicinterest in protecting its overseas economic interests.However, since all the devices and leverage used by the US in safeguarding itsoverseas interests partially rely on the American comprehensive primacy in the world,the US experience can not be simply duplicated by another country. Besides, there is ahuge difference of the nature of nation and development path between the twocountries. China, as a responsible and cooperative actor on the international stage,should explore a unique road of protecting its overseas economic interests. And thecritical studies on the American practice will help China develop a more effective andlegitimate mode with Chinese characteristics.