Globalization at A Crossroads

By Chi Fulin

The novel coronavirus outbreak has brought severe shocks to global supply and industrial chains. The longer the pandemic lasts， the bigger the impact will be. Some supply chains could possibly break down. Being the powerhouse of global manufacturing， the accelerating production resumption in China is conducive to the development of the global manufacturing industry. However， as the coronavirus spreads around the world， some manufacturing enterprises in the U.S. and Europe may well have to shut down， which will drag down the global economy in general. Some experts estimate that the 2020 global growth rate will be the lowest since the 2008 global fi nancial crisis.

Some sectors of the economy have been struck particularly hard by the outbreak， especially the travel， hospitality and transportation industries. Some airlines may not be able to survive the current crisis. The auto manufacturing， electrical and electronics as well as pharmaceutical sectors have also seen great pressure， as the pandemic forces intermediate product manufacturers to suspend business and affects consumer demand and supply chains.

The pandemic will also have a big impact on international projects of major significance. Contractors may well be confronted with challenges in fulfi lling contracts， fi nancing and getting employees to restart work. Consequently， some projects might have to be postponed， halted or even canceled.

The shrinking international trade is another concern. Figures from the World Trade Organization show that global crossborder trade saw a year-on-year drop of about 10 percent in February. A worldwide slowdown of trade will lead to a decline in the global economic growth.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development （OECD） predicted in a report released on March 2 that the U.S. growth rate this year will drop from 2 percent to 1.9 percent， that of Japan from 0.6 percent to 0.2 percent， eurozone from 1.1 percent to 0.9 percent and China from 5.7 percent to 4.9 percent. Such a prediction may be over-optimistic. The global economic growth rate in 2020 could be much lower than the OECDs forecast.

The pandemic has heightened the risk of a global economic crisis. Recently， erosion of confi dence in the global capital market， coupled with a plunge in the international stock markets resulting from plummeting oil prices， has led the world into a short-term recession. The temporary recession can evolve into a full-blown crisis if the pandemic lasts， if major powers fail to come up with effective measures， or if coordinated relief efforts from the international community come too late. Its safe to say that the risk is increasing. The international community should have a clear understanding of the current situation and stay alert to the dangers.

Deglobalization challenges

Worse still， the pandemic， coupled with the temporary global economic recession， will severely erode the confi dence of producers and consumers， and the anti-globalization sentiment will see a rise. If isolationism， unilateralism， popularism and protectionism take hold， it will most certainly hurt economic globalization.

The anti-globalization sentiment will deal a heavy blow to bilateral and regional trade and investment liberalization， as well as economic integration.

In this context， new uncertainties may arise in implementing the China-U.S. phase-one economic and trade deal， hammering out the China-Europe investment deal in 2020 and launching the feasibility study for the China-Europe free trade agreement. The outbreak will also prolong negotiations on the China-JapanRepublic of Korea free trade agreement and add to difficulties for the three countries joint efforts to advance the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership process.

Major countries will be confronted with more complex changes in economic and trade ties. The pandemic might result in a more complicated China-U.S. relationship.More challenges might also arise in ChinaEurope cooperation.

The picture of U.S.-Europe ties is not upbeat either. Trade confl icts between the two sides in 2019 resulted in a sluggish economy in the EU. Their hope of inking a mini trade deal in March has been dashed because of the epidemic， disputes over Airbus subsidies and the digital service tax.

What next？

The international community should make concerted efforts to fight the pandemic and improve the global public health governance system. The virus knows no borders or nationalities. Its a major challenge confronting the international community. Building a community with shared future for humanity and formulating a cooperation mechanism to fight against common enemies have become an urgent need under the current situation.

A coordinated global public health action mechanism of higher level， such as one comprising Group of 20 heads of state or health ministers， should be set up to take effective steps in a more timely manner when faced with global public health emergencies.

Public health security should be included in the worlds security framework， and joint efforts should be made to cushion the heavy shocks to the global economy and international community caused by emergent public health crises.

China， where the situation is almost brought under control and which has gained valuable experience in combating the coronavirus， should engage more in international and regional cooperation to contain it. Chinese medical teams have been sent to assist some hard-hit countries. As the outbreak rages in more countries， China should assemble more emergency teams of medical staff and experts to give a hand to other countries.

More support should be given to the World Health Organization （WHO）. Major countries should do more to buoy WHO， share data and technological break- throughs related to fi ghting the pandemic， team up to study the source of the virus， create vaccines and produce medicines. One or several international foundations against epidemics should be established by the World Bank and other multilateral fi nancial institutions.

Once Chinas economy is rebooted in all sectors， it will have the capacity to deliver more help to other countries to fi ght against the coronavirus. This will be a great contribution to the stability of the global economy. China should and will produce and export more medical supplies to meet the demand of epidemic control both at home and abroad.

Chinas market， especially the services sector， should be further opened to break new ground. Free trade policies related to medical care and health industries should be implemented in pilot free trade zones such as Hainan Province in south China.