Editor’s Note: This commentary examines how China’s continued dominance in low-skill manufacturing is reshaping global trade. The authors argue that China’s policies, not just its economic efficiency, are limiting opportunities for developing countries with major implications for growth and global leadership.
By Shoumitro Chatterjee, Arvind Subramanian - Project Syndicate | October 20, 2025
China’s continued dominance in low-skill export sectors reflects not just efficiency, but deliberate policy choices that prevent poorer countries from climbing the development ladder. If it truly aspires to global leadership, it must stop tilting the playing field in its own favor.
