Title: Trade competitiveness analysis of the Chinese medical device industry

Authors: Weifan Zhang; Chris Chatwin

Addresses: Business School, Shanghai Dianji University, No. 300 Shuihua Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 201306, China ' School of Engineering and Informatics, University of Sussex, Shawcross Building, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9QT, UK

Abstract: Competitive advantage in international trade is indicated by a country's ability to gain benefits from foreign trade. These benefits can be achieved by expanding export volumes or improving trade structure and core competitiveness based on excellent quality and high-technology content. This paper analyses the trade competitiveness of the Chinese medical device industry by using the trade competitiveness (TC) index, revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index, competitive advantage (CA) index, and Grubel and Lloyd (GL) index. The different trade indices provide a measure of the competitive status of the Chinese medical device industry and its evolving trends. The results from this study imply that the competitiveness of Chinese medical devices has gradually weakened from 2007 to 2019. In detail: medical dressings, health protection and recovery products have a competitive advantage in the global market; whilst medical disposable products, dental equipment and materials have no obvious competitive advantage; medical diagnosis and treatment devices do not have a competitive advantage. Positive measures are being taken by the Chinese government to ameliorate the current deterioration in the competitiveness of Chinese medical devices.

Keywords: biomedical industry; China; international competitiveness; medical device market; performance indices; trade competitiveness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2023.130105

International Journal of Trade and Global Markets, 2023 Vol.17 No.1, pp.64 - 87

Received: 03 Mar 2021
Accepted: 26 Sep 2021
Published online: 05 Apr 2023 *