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poor country in which the vast majority of people had little opportunity to advance economically. Even as recently as 1978, China’s economy was highly regulated and relatively

isolated because of bureau- crats in the Chinese Communist Party. As a result, China was still a rela- tively marginal player in the world trade arena until it began instituting economic reforms in 1979. These reforms ultimately led China to become a member of the World Trade Organization in 2001.

Did You Know?

Rising air pollution levels in Beijing resulted in a new disease known as “Beijing cough,” bouts of sporadic dry coughs or tickles that last from December through April, brought on by the city’s severe air pollution. Symptoms typically disappear after people leave the city.

International trade and commerce have grown signifi- cantly since the 1970s as part of a growing global economy. Although defined in various ways, a global economy is essentially one characterized by worldwide economic activ- ity among countries around the world. International trade and commerce are fundamental aspects of the global econ- omy and they are also the key factors in the increasing development and prosperity in many parts of the world. Global economic expansion has conferred many finan- cial benefits on the people of China, primarily in the form of more jobs, higher wages, and a higher standard of living . Meanwhile, China has gone through a period of industrial- ization not seen since the Industrial Revolution in the West. China, however, had few environmental regulations,

Global Trade and the Environment

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