ECX2630 - ECX5630 Chinese Economy and Global Business
Semester 1 2025
Title
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Essay and Video Assignment
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Assessment task purpose
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This assignment asks you to research the impact of technological
advances on long-term economic growth in particular jobs, skills and wages.
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Align to Learning
outcomes
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1. critically review China’s development strategy since 1978 and the sustainability of the current development model from an
economic and environmental perspective
2. critically evaluate the opportunities and challenges of the integration of China with the global economy on trade, investment, and international cooperation
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Your
assessment task
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Current EV Market Trends: The global electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable transportation and strong government support in many countries. In 2023, global EV sales reached approximately 10.5 million units, with China leading the market, accounting for nearly 60% of global sales. Chinese automakers, such as BYD and NIO, have become prominent players, leveraging competitive pricing and advanced battery technology. The European Union (EU) and the
United States (U.S.) are also significant markets, with EV sales in Europe comprising about 25% of new car registrations, and in the U.S., EV sales reached around 8% of total car sales in 2023.
Trade Restriction Policies: Amid this growth, both the U.S. and EU have implemented trade restrictions on Chinese EVs to protect
domestic industries and address concerns over market competition and technological dominance. The U.S. has imposed tariffs on
Chinese EV imports, particularly under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which includes tariffs of up to 100% on vehicles and related components from China. This move is part of a broader strategy to counter China's influence in advanced technologies.
Similarly, the EU is considering anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese EVs, arguing that Chinese manufacturers benefit from substantial state
subsidies, allowing them to sell EVs at below-market prices in
Europe. This could result in tariffs ranging from 17.4% to 37.6% on imported Chinese EVs. The EU's concerns are heightened by the
fact that Chinese EV makers have captured a significant share of the European market, with some estimates suggesting that Chinese-
made EVs could account for 15% of all EVs sold in Europe by 2025.
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The objective of this assignment is to critically examine the factors
driving China's strategy to export electric vehicles (EVs) to the U.S.
and EU, and to analyze the concerns these regions have regarding
such imports. Students will explore the economic, technological, and geopolitical implications of Chinese EV exports, including the impact of trade restrictions imposed by the U.S. and EU on both the Chinese economy and the global EV market. The assignment aims to develop students' understanding of international trade dynamics, the
intersection of technology and policy, and the consequences of protectionist measures on global business relations.
Review specific task instructions below.
References are listed below - you will need to search for more references to enhance your understanding of this board issue.
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Length of
Assessment
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Word limit: For ECX2630 students, must not exceed 1,000 words; For ECX5630 students, must not exceed 1,500 words (excluding references)
Video length: For ECX2630 students, one minute; for ECX5630 students, two minutes
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Value
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15% of your total marks for the unit
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Due Date
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Friday of Week 10, 16 May 2025
11:55 pm
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Submission
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• Submit one essay and one video file. (The essay and video
are considered a single unit; failure to submit either
component will result in an incomplete submission and a mark of zero)
• Submit the reference in a SEPARATE document.
• Faculty assessment coversheet must be accompanied and submitted as a SEPARATE document.
• Submit via Moodle Assignment Submission.
• Turnitin will be used for similarity checking of all submissions.
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Assessment Criteria
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Logical consistency (5 marks):
• Demonstrate the understanding and appropriate use of economic rationales in the paper
Relevance to the topic (5 marks):
• Having a minimum of three (3) references (books or articles written in English from reputable publishers*), in addition to the references mentioned in this instructional paper
• Creative use of adequate data and figures to support arguments
Presentation (5 marks)
• Having a well-structured introductory and conclusion section
• Demonstrate the appropriate use of language and the style of charting in presentation
• Video is clear, confident, and visually effective
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*Note: In the current context, reputable publishers include
international organisations, governments, universities, and well-
known commercial publishers. Citing newspaper articles is allowed but with caution in checking the sources of information.
Please refer to the marking rubric for more details
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INSTRUCTIONS
Here are three references that students can use to start their research on the topic of
Chinese EV exports to the U.S. and EU. You need to search for more reference to enhance your understanding of this broad issue.
Citation requirements: Please follow Section 3.2 of Monash University Q Manual for referencing and citation.
1. Kennedy, Scott (2024),The Chinese EV Dilemma: Subsidized Yet Striking, CSIS
2. Dai, T. (2024),History says tariffs rarely work, but Biden’s 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs could defy the trend, The Conversation
3. ABC (2024)While the US and EU are putting up barriers to Chinese cars, Australians are buying them at record levels
4. The Diplomat (2024), “ US and Europe - 2 Different Approaches to Restricting Chinese EVs”
Task No 1
Word limit: For ECX2630 students, must not exceed 1,000 words; For ECX5630 students, must not exceed 1,500 words (excluding references)
A written essay to address the following questions (this is not a comprehensive list and please feel free to add any issue you want to investigate):
• Overview of the Global EV Market
• Motivations behind China’s EV Exports
• US and EU Concerns and Trade Restriction
• Consequences of Trade Restrictions
Please note: students must write an essay to address these questions in a coherent way, rather than a Q&A style writing.
(Please note: ECX2630 students only need to discuss the US related issues, but not EU related issues. ECX5630 students need to discuss both US and EU policies):
Suggestion of the essay structure:
1. Introduction
• Objective: Briefly explain the focus of the essay—China's export of EVs to the U.S. and EU and the resulting trade tensions.
• Thesis Statement: State the main argument of the essay, such as the impact of these trade policies on global EV markets and economies.
2. Global EV Market Overview
• Market Trends: Summarize key statistics and trends in the global EV market, emphasizing China's leading role.
3. China’s EV Export Strategy
• Economic and Technological Goals: Discuss why China is pushing to export EVs, including its economic and technological motivations.
4. U.S. and EU Trade Restrictions
• Concerns: Outline why the U.S. and EU are imposing tariffs, including economic and strategic reasons.
• Policies: Describe the specific trade restrictions implemented by the U.S. and EU.
5. Consequences of Trade Policies
• Impact on China: Explain how these policies might affect China’s EV industry.
• Impact on U.S. and EU: Discuss the potential effects on their markets and consumers.
6. Conclusion
• Summary: Recap the key points and consider the long-term implications of these trade policies.
7. References (in a separate document)
• List the sources used for the essay.
Note: Word counts are approximate and can be adjusted according to your specific requirements.
Task No 2
You will create a video [For ECX2630 students, one minute in length; for ECX5630 students, 2 minutes in length] to succinctly encapsulate your primary research outcomes. Ensure that your face is clearly visible, alongside a legible Monash ID card (or a digital M card or whatever your personal identity), akin to a TV presenter, as depicted in the image.
During the video, explain the principal narrative of your essay in words without using PowerPoint slides.