A Comparative Study On International Competitiveness Of Chinese And Japanese Maritime Service Trade

Shipping is the main way to trade among countries in the world. Its development situation reflects the economy and trade level of a country. In recent years maritime service trade has gradually played a major partin the maritime industry which mainly includes cargo transport by sea, passenger transport by sea and other supporting services related to maritime transport. The degree of opening up of China’s maritime service trade continues to increase since China joins the WTO. With abundant natural resources, long coastline and excellent natural harbor, China’s maritime service trade has developed rapidly. China’s maritime service trade has much more trade amount, but has a big trade deficit in the long term which due to the maritime service trade imports exceed the exports. And the recent development of China’s maritime service trade is slowing down with lots of problems including inadequate fleet capacity, less competitive industry and a wide gap compared to the developed countries in maritime service trade. In contrast with China, Japan has shorter coastline, fewer harborsand the natural resources are scarce. However, Japan’s maritime service trade has been the world leading level. Although the amount of the maritime service trade is less than China, Japan has a smaller deficit and is more competitive in fleet capacity and international market share. Through a comprehensive comparison on international competitiveness of Chinese and Japanese maritime service trade, the paper analyzes the root causes of thedifferences between the two countries in maritime service trade and makessuggestions to promote the Chinese maritime service development.After analyzing and comparing the amount, the international market status and the regional market status of China and Japanese maritime service trade, the paper finds that China has a bigger maritime service trade deficit, takes less share in international maritime service trade market and has poor fleet capacity. The paper calculates the international competitiveness of China and Japan maritime service trade using thesingle trade index including TC index, RCA index and CA index. TC index and RCA index calculation results show that Japan is more competitive to China in maritime service trade in world market, but CA index calculation shows the opposite results. This implies that the single trade index calculation method is unstable and this method can’t explain the differences by specific factors.Based on the theory of Michael Porter’s Diamond Model, utilizing the AHP method, the paper establishes international competitiveness evaluation index system of the maritime service trade including China, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, Singapore and Denmark and uses the system to calculate the international competitiveness of China and Japan maritime service trade between 2008 to 2012. The calculation results show that Japan’s maritime service trade is more competitive internationally than China in the five years. Concerning to the demand condition, Japan’s maritime service trade is more competitive in the global market demand while China maritime service trade is more competitive in the domestic market demand. Concerning to the production factors, the number of Japan ships and ship capacity are more competitive while China has more fleets but fleet capacityis inadequate. Concerning to the related auxiliary industries, China maritime servicetrade is more competitive. Concerning to the enterprise competitiveness, Japan’s maritime service trade is more competitive.Based the results of the evaluation index system, the paper analyses the root cause of the international competitiveness differences between Chinese and Japanese maritime service trade from three aspects including industry supporting policy aspect, industrial competitiveness aspect and enterprise competitiveness aspect. The Chinese and Japanese industry supporting policies differences are embodied in the maritime policyevolution process difference, the maritime service trade open up degree difference, shipping tax and financing policy difference. Industrial competitiveness differences are embodied in the Chinese and Japanese maritime service trade industry production factors difference and in the related auxiliary industry development difference. Enterprise competitiveness differences are mainly reflected in the maritime service trade companies’international market share difference and operating mode difference. Finally, according to enlightenment and development experience of the Japan’s maritime service trade, the paper puts forward measures to perfect China maritime service trade policy, to improve maritime trade service industry and enterprise competitiveness.