Assessing Myanmar’s trade dependence on China during the reform period of the 2010s: a sectoral value chain approach

Myanmar’s external economic relations during the 2010s can be broadly characterized as processes of re-integration with outside world, thus paying way for diversification away from dependence on its preeminent neighbor, China. A close examination, however, reveals a complex set dynamics in Myanmar–China relations, particularly trade sector. sectoral value chain analysis shows that China rose rather rapidly early part decade, which was later halted by lifting Western sanctions. However, it also found same process helped Myanmar diversify export sector simultaneously increased country’s Chinese imports because newly established global chains. Overall trends explained considering geographic scale and country positions specific to chains key sectors natural gas, vegetables, garments. The findings suggest although sanctions pivotal, improvement diplomatic West did not linearly reduce