Citigroup: Taking Sides Case Analysis
Citibank, part of Citigroup, was one of the first foreign banks that had obtained licenses to conduct a limited range of commercial activities in China. When China entered the World Trade Organization at the end of 2001, Citigroup was still at an early stage in its China strategy. By 2002, Citibank had become one of the strongest foreign banks operating in the People's Republic of China, but as a foreign bank it had only limited market access, for a limited array of services. Citigroup wanted to determine the growth prospects for each of its divisions, and which of its vast array of financial services should be the focus for expansion in China (Conklin, 2005). Learning team A, have analyzed the case entitled "Citigroup in Post-WTO China." Sides were taken by team members on whether Citigroup has or has not displayed adaptability in its attempt to expand operations in China.
Citigroup has displayed adaptability
Citigroup has operated in China for more than a century and has a long history of goodwill in this country. Citigroup's reputation is explained in the case study which states:
Citigroup had a well-established reputation for commitment, which has made Citigroup popular with the Chinese government. Unlike other banks which moved into the countries on the expectation of brisk profits and then moved out when they were slow to materialize, Citigroup moved in early with the intent to stay. (Conklin, 2005)
Citigroup's reputation and intentions has helped earn the trust of the Chinese government which demonstrates the advantage Citigroup has over other banks in being able to adapt in China.
In 2001 China entered the WTO it has made major stride in the world economy especially with trade agreements with the biggest capitalist economy and the biggest GDP and most developed country in the world the United States of America which has nearly 2.3 trillion of exported goods and service in 2013 (President, n.d.) When China entered in the WTO it had become the sixth largest economy and the largest market trade and was slightly ahead of Italy and just behind France. “China is third largest trading partner with the U.S and its trade surplus with the U.S. has increased to $201 billion around 2005 and by 2014 the total China-U.S. trade deals was 591 billion”. (Morrison, 2015) It had a global current account of $160 billion around 2005 (Hufbauer, Wong, & Sheth, 2006). As of 2015 “China is the U. S’s second largest trading company and the third largest export company and its biggest source of import”. (Morrison, 2015) Sales from a foreign affiliated U.S. firms in China totaled at 364 billion by 2013. (Morrison, 2015). What is also amazing is that China has the biggest U.S. treasury bonds and that keeps U.S interest rate low. Between 2010 to 2014 General Motor sold more cars in the Chine’s market than in the U.S. market and many U.S. firms participate in Chinese market to stay globally competitive. (Morrison, 2015). This kind of
Morrison, Wayne M. "China and the World Trade Organization." Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs. Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs, 2002. Academic OneFile. Web. 3 Oct. 2011.
For the past twenty-five years, China has witnessed an overall increase in its domestic growth (Fischler 148). According to the article, “The Rise of China as a Global Power,” by Dr. Rosita Dellios, China “is the world's fourth largest trading nation, rising from 32nd in 1978 to 10th in 1997.” Similarly, China’s GDP is also second to the United States of America, generating 13 percent of the world’s output (Dellios). Since China’s introduction into the World Trade Organization in December 2001, its average tariff dropped from 41 percent in 1992 to 6 percent in 2001, becoming one of the most open economies in the world (Dellios). China is also the world’s fastest developing economy, obtaining an annual growth of 9.5 percent through foreign direct investment, low labor rates, emerging markets, and growth expansion. (Dellios). Therefore, the 21st century has been titled the “Chinese Century”, as China has become the second-largest international economy in the world (Ji-lin 15).
Worden, Robert L., Andrea Matles Savada, and Ronald E. Dolan. China: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, 1988. Print.
The early decades of the nineteenth century saw the establishment of banks in the Caribbean largely as a convenience for the local governments. Throughout much of the nineteenth century, most Caribbean banks operated as an oligopoly with limited government influence – this directly translated into higher profits. However, over time, the banking environment could best be described as complex and dynamic. Competition increased, resulting into greater need for improved customer service, product innovation and cost reduction strategies. In order to achieve this, the banking sector was undergoing major structural reforms characterized by mergers and acquisitions. On July 23, 2001 Barclays and CIBC announced that they were in advanced discussions which were intended to lead to the combination of their retail, corporate and offshore banking operations in the Caribbean.
In 2008, the Global Financial Crisis broke out; both the American economy and the economy in the West suffered a hard blow. However, a big economy system in the East emerged unexpectedly. China is now able to challenge the America’s decades-long dominant position in economic area. Started during the middle of 1990s, China’s manufacturing industry developed rapidly that billions of exports were floating out, and China was given the title of “the world’s factory”(BBC). By the end of 2010, China with a GDP of $5.8 trillion, surpassed Japan’s GDP of $5.48 trillion, became the world’s second largest economy system (BBC). China also exceeded Japan became America’s largest foreign securities holder. Since then, China has been seen as the US’s biggest opponent in economic field. Some economists even say that in 10 years, China will be the same size as the US economy. No matter whether China is going to reach the US’s economy size in 10 years or not, after forty years since the US first opened trade with China in 1972, America’s economy gradually relies on China’s economy and will collapse without the strength of China’s market.
With the development of China, the economy of China has become the World’s second largest after the US. On the other hand, the ...
Xingzhong, LI Daokui David YIN. "The International Monetary System in the Era of Post-Financial Crisis: What Policy Options Does China Have?[J]." Journal of Financial Research 2 (2010): 005
...erally felt united in the common cause of building up China (Fairbank and Goldman 369).Fully 8 years were wasted in terms of economic growth and the cost of opportunity loss was enormous. Considering that this setback occurred when other Asian countries were taking off economically(Chan3).
The massive increase in the Chinese trading relations was fueled by the United States in the year 1979 through the normal trade relations between the two countries. In addition, the Chinese non-concession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the year 2001 also facilitated its trading activities with different countries including the United States (Kaplan, 57). However, trading relations with the Chinese have been uneasy resulting from the massive trade imbalances in the recent past, which grows exponentially. The protectionist policies of the United States especially in Washington and Beijing have been putting pressure on the Chinese to revalue their currency as well as protecting it from counterfeits, which may be of adverse effects to the trading relations. This paper gives a comprehensive discussion on the foreign trade relations with china. It further gives an elaborate discussion on the impacts of foreign tr...
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