Research On The Sustainable Development Of China’s Agricultural Products Trade Based On Ecological Footprint

With the degree of international trade liberalization increasing, developedcountries gradually began to the imports of natural resources and environmentalservices.Agricultural trade is not only a barter, more attention should be on thetransfer of ecological capital and environmental space.China’s agricultural product trade has developed continuously after thegovernment implemented Reform and opening up policy, especially after china joinedthe WTO. In2012, china became the third largest agricultural products trading nation.In2012, the total agricultural products trade volume is$175.66billion. In2004，China agricultural trade deficit appeard for the first time，and continued to expand, in2012the trade deficit was$49.21billion. The widening trade deficit has drawn greatattention of the state generally. Although the trade deficit will increase the effectivesupply of domestic products to a certain extent, and ease domestic prices. But at thesame time will have serious impact on China’s agricultural production and market,thereby impede agricultural production, affect the enthusiasm of farmers, triggersocial instability, and so on. Coupled with escalating trade barriers and agriculturalproduction of natural resources and environmental bottlenecks，it impede sustainabledevelopment of China’s agricultural trade.This paper analyzes agricultural products trade’s sustainability in1992-2012using the trade ecological footprint model, and concludes:(1) agricultural productstrad e changes from surplus to deficit, and the deficit increases annually;(2) itsecological footprint structure is not well-distributed, but the trade is good;(3)different kind of land has different ecological footprint. The ecological footprint netvalue of farmland changes from deficit to surplus, woodland and grassland mainlyare surplus, while water area is deficit.Then, this paper analyzes the agricultural products trade’s sustainability from thepoint of economics and ecology. It shows that the export ecological efficiency islarger than the import ecological efficiency; the ecological capital in other countries isrelatively cheaper. In sum, the economical sustainable development dominates inchina before china joins WTO, while the ecological sustainable development starts todominate after china joins WTO. We should make a balance between economicalsustainable development and ecological sustainable development to promote both in the trade development.This paper also presents some countermeasure:(1) Enhance public awarenessand education of sustainable development and environment protection;(2). transform trade growth pattern and pay attention to both export and import;(3)Adjust the structure of trade products and decrease the drain of ecological capital;(4)Develop the green agriculture, improve production efficiency（.5）increase technologycontent and strengthen management to deal with trade barrier;(6) strengtheninternational cooperation and achieve global win-win.