Title:
Bilateral Trade Asymmetry Under the Belt and Road Initiative: Evidence From Cameroon–China Trade, 2000–2024

Authors:
Nana Nyah Michele Rolande, Prof. Wang Wuyi, China

Abstract:

This Article Examines Whether Cameroon–China Trade During the Belt and Road Initiative (Bri) Period Shows Evidence of Balanced Trade Deepening or Persistent Structural Asymmetry. Using Annual Bilateral Merchandise Trade Data for 2000–2024 From UN Comtrade and the World Integrated Trade Solution, the Article Applies Sub-period Compound Annual Growth Rate Analysis, the Herfindahl–hirschman Index (Hhi), the Trade Intensity Index (Tii), Commodity-price Cross-referencing, and a Comparator-country Benchmark Using Côte D’ivoire. The Evidence Shows That Two-way Trade Increased From About Us$190 Million in 2000 to Us$2.09 Billion in 2024. This Expansion Was Import-led. Cameroon Moved From a Us$20 Million Bilateral Deficit in 2000 to a Us$1.22 Billion Deficit in 2024. Hhi Values Remained Above 0.25 in Every Observed Year, Reaching 0.385 in 2023, With Crude Oil Accounting for 57.8 Percent of Exports to China. Import-side Tii Rose From 0.85 to 1.82, While Export-side Tii Stayed Below One Except During the 2021 Commodity- Price Spike. The Article Concludes That Bri-period Trade Engagement Widened Cameroon Access to Chinese Manufactures and Project-linked Inputs, but Did Not Shift the Export BASE Toward Stronger Market Penetration or Product Diversification.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51505/IJEBMR.2026.10611