China’s long-standing and rampant “innovation mercantilist” policies harm global innovation by taking market share and revenues from more-innovative foreign competitors, which diminishes the resources they can invest in research and development toward further innovation. ITIF has conducted extensive analysis on this issue in the following publications, among others:

Subverting Global Norms

• Stephen Ezell, “False Promises II: The Continuing Gap Between China’s WTO Commitments and Its Practices” (ITIF, July 2021).
• Robert D. Atkinson and Stephen Ezell, “False Promises: The Yawning Gap Between China’s WTO Commitments and Practices” (ITIF, September 2015).

Economic Impact

• Robert D. Atkinson, “Industry by Industry: More Chinese Mercantilism, Less Global Innovation” (ITIF, May 2021).
• Nigel Cory, “Heading Off Track: The Impact of China’s Mercantilist Policies on Global High-Speed Rail Innovation” (ITIF, April 2021).
• Stephen Ezell, “Moore’s Law Under Attack: The Impact of China’s Policies on Global Semiconductor Innovation” (ITIF, February 2021).
• David M. Hart, “The Impact of China’s Production Surge on Innovation in the Global Solar Photovoltaics Industry” (ITIF, October 2020).
• Robert D. Atkinson, “The Impact of China’s Policies on Global Biopharmaceutical Industry Innovation” (ITIF, September 2020).
• Robert D. Atkinson, “How China’s Mercantilist Policies Have Undermined Global Innovation in the Telecom Equipment Industry” (ITIF, June 2020).
• Robert D. Atkinson, “Innovation Drag: China’s Economic Impact on Developed Nations” (ITIF, January 2020).

Strategic Analysis and Recommendations

• Robert D. Atkinson, “How to Win the Economic War With China,” International Economy, fall 2024.
• Robert D. Atkinson, “Speed Up America, Slow Down China, or Both? The Key Strategic Question for the 21st Century,” ITIF blog series, China’s Tech Challenge, August 28, 2023.
• Robert D. Atkinson, “U.S. Trade Policy at a Turning Point: How America Can Better Protect Itself Against China’s Predatory Policies,” The International Economy, June 2021.
• Robert D. Atkinson, “The Global Third Way on ‘Power Trade’,” The International Economy, April 2021.
• Robert D. Atkinson, “A Remarkable Resemblance: Germany From 1900 to 1945 and China Today,” The International Economy, January 2021.
• David Moschella and Robert D. Atkinson “Competing With China: A Strategic Framework” (ITIF, August 2020).
• Nigel Cory and Robert D. Atkinson, “Why and How to Mount a Strong, Trilateral Response to China’s Innovation Mercantilism” (ITIF, January 2020).
• Robert D. Atkinson, Nigel Cory, Stephen Ezell, “Stopping China’s Mercantilism: A Doctrine of Constructive, Alliance-Backed Confrontation” (ITIF, March 2017).