The Study Of The Change Of U.S.attitude Toward China's Tariff Autonomy

A new phrase took on American commercial affairs in China after the Washington conference, which revealed the fact that, on one hand, American government had begun to consider the feasibility to surrender exterritoriality to China step by step and to return the tariff autonomy to the authoritive government by Treaty of Washington and addenda of resumed session; on the other hand, due to its neutrality and low-keyed gesture in May Thirtieth Incident, America didn't encounter political pressures stirred by Chinese so-called nationalism that Britain and Japan had suffered, being two political advantage rested on the expansion of American business in China.The traditional sentiment holds that American economic power in China is inferior to the power of Britain and Japan as America expands just in pursuit of commercial interests. Even so, it is open to discussion in terms of time and fields, including the bilateral trade of strategic material after 1931 which should be considered for the former and the investment and banking in China which ought to be outlined in the latter case. It is noteworthy that within this period, America enlarged its economic influence on China at a rising stage before Anti-Japanese War. On account of the similarity to the political system, America intended to deepen the economic contact with ROC so that to develop the bilateral political partnership. However, the policymaker in white house wrongly assumed Japan would not undermined Washington system without difficulty, so long as Japan were dependent on American consuming market and financial circle both based on indispensable bilateral relationship. Coupled with domestic problem of isolationism, America failed to effect the economic diplomacy via its economic potential in China market while the endeavor for America to expand business and influence the politics in China fell through in the end with all-out war of invasion against China launched by Japan. It is still need to point out this issue, although sketchily referred.