China's transformation from a virtually closed economy to a major trading nation is an incredible success story. Since 1979 the country has changed it's policies to promote increased foreign trade and investment, thereby attracting more direct investment to China than to any other developing country in recent years. What brought about this change? How, after thirty years of being walled off form the world economy, did China open its door?

This book part of the Integrating National Economies series, tells the story of how China ended it long-held policies of economic isolationism and...

Product standards, regulations, and conformity assessment procedures are important and necessary, but they also, at times, threaten the free flow of goods in international markets and the competitive positions of many exporters, including those in the United States. The barriers to trade that may result form product standards and regulations may be inadvertent or deliberate. The problem cuts across a wide array of industries, from motor vehicles to computers to televisions to food and beverages.

This book, part of the Brookings Integrating National Economies series, is the first to blend...

The European Union is the oldest and most highly developed example of institutionalized regional integration. Since its establishment in the early 1950s, the EU has moved from the shallow integration of dismantling trade barriers to the deep integration of accepting common policies on agriculture, environment, transport, and working conditions; common rules on competition, mergers, and financial transfers; and common laws in the domestic courts of member states.

The EU experience is a successful example of integrating national economies, but how far should those promoting regional...