Samsung is one of the world's leading companies and global brands. It began as a domestic producer. Through joint ventures, alliances and technology licensing agreements (技术批准协议) over the years, Samsung developed the capabilities to start exporting electronic product.Initially, it sold its branded products at a discount to its American and Japanese competitors to price-sensitive buyers in overseas markets. Besides, it added sales volume by obtaining relatively large orders as a private-label manufacturer for other foreign companies.To develop new products, Samsung invested in upgrading its market research and product development capabilities, raising the Research & Development (R&D) budget, conducting extensive consumer research, and setting up manufacturing and distribution operations in major export markets, which helped Samsung enter the television and mobile phone categories.7. Samsung put investments into all of the following except ________.A upgrading market researchB reducing R&D budgetC carrying out consumer researchD establishing distribution operations