Understanding Chinese consumption goods imports

China's consumption imports per capita in 2012 equaled $36, much less than comparable countries' imports. This paper investigates the determinants of consumption imports. Evidence from panel dynamic ordinary least squares estimation and imports from 20 leading trading partners over the 1992-2012 period indicates that GDP growth and renminbi appreciation would cause large increases in China's consumption imports. Thus if policymakers continue fostering growth and development and continue allowing the renminbi to appreciate, they would enable Chinese consumers to purchase more medicine, food, and other goods from the rest of the world.