美國欲聯(lián)合歐日打擊中國知識產(chǎn)權

The Trump administration is seeking to convince the EU and Japan to join its efforts to tackle China over Beijing’s intellectual property regime as it tries to address one of the top concerns of foreign businesses operating in China.

特朗普政府正尋求說服歐盟(EU)和日本，與美國聯(lián)手打擊中國的知識產(chǎn)權制度，此際，美國試圖化解在華外資企業(yè)的首要擔憂之一。

The move follows Washington’s launch in the summer of an investigation into Chinese IP theft and forced technology transfer rules that some fear could lead to US tariffs and a trade war between the world’s two largest economies. It also marks the administration’s first major attempt to co-operate with traditional trade allies in taking on China.

今年夏季，美國政府針對中國侵犯知識產(chǎn)權以及強迫技術轉(zhuǎn)讓的行為啟動調(diào)查，一些人擔心，調(diào)查可能會導致美國征收關稅，同時全球最大的兩個經(jīng)濟體將爆發(fā)貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)。這還標志著美國政府與傳統(tǒng)貿(mào)易盟友合作對抗中國的首次重大努力。

However, European and Japanese officials are wary and point to what they see as the risk in co-operating with a bellicose and mercurial US president who has vowed to pursue an “America First” foreign and trade policy.

然而，歐洲和日本官員有所顧忌，他們認為與一位好戰(zhàn)且多變的美國總統(tǒng)合作是危險的，特朗普發(fā)誓將推行“美國優(yōu)先”的外交和貿(mào)易政策。

Their reluctance follows battles over the administration’s now-stalled push to impose tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium that would have hit allies such as Germany, Japan and South Korea hard. It also highlights how Donald Trump’s presidency has rewritten US relationships, making it harder for Washington to assemble the sort of diplomatic coalitions that presidents have traditionally used to tackle issues of mutual economic interest.

此前，美國政府采取的現(xiàn)已停滯的對鋼鐵和鋁進口征收關稅的舉措引發(fā)爭議，此舉將嚴重損害德國、日本和韓國等盟友。這還突顯出，唐納德•特朗普(Donald Trump)擔任總統(tǒng)改寫了美國關系，這加大了美國政府召集外交聯(lián)盟的難度，美國總統(tǒng)一直利用這種外交聯(lián)盟解決經(jīng)濟互利的問題。

According to senior officials familiar with the discussions, the US began approaching European Commission officials and EU member states as well as officials in Japan over the summer. The first approaches came just before Mr Trump signed an executive memorandum ordering US trade representative Robert Lighthizer to launch an investigation into China’s IP practice.

據(jù)了解相關會談的高級官員稱，美國從今年夏季開始接觸歐盟委員會(European Commission)官員和歐盟成員國以及日本官員。首批接觸就在特朗普簽署行政備忘錄命令美國貿(mào)易代表羅伯特•萊特希澤(Robert Lighthizer)針對中國知識產(chǎn)權慣例展開調(diào)查之前。

The “Section 301” investigation is controversial because it would give Mr Trump powers to impose unilateral tariffs and take other measures against China that could spark a trade war. The probe is expected to take up to a year, although some administration officials are pushing for it to be completed by the end of this year.

這次“301條款”(Section 301)調(diào)查備受爭議，因為這將讓特朗普有權征收單邊關稅并針對中國采取其他措施，這將引發(fā)貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)。預計調(diào)查將耗時一年，不過美國政府一些官員正推動其在今年年底之前完成。

According to one person briefed on the talks, US trade officials suggested during a visit to Tokyo last month that Japan could take its own unilateral measures. However, Japanese officials pointed out there were no statutes on their books to allow this.

據(jù)獲得此次會談簡要介紹的一位人士稱，美國貿(mào)易官員曾在上月出訪日本時建議，日本可以采取自己的單邊措施。然而，日本官員指出，日本沒有這種法規(guī)。

European and Japanese officials have told US counterparts that they would not join any action that would result in the US flouting World Trade Organisation rules, something that some nationalist members of the administration are keen to see.

歐洲和日本官員告訴美國官員，他們不會加入任何將導致美國無視世界貿(mào)易組織(WTO)規(guī)定的行動，而這種無視是美國政府內(nèi)部一些民粹主義官員希望看到的。

“I don’t think we would be ready to support the US if at the end of the investigation they decide to go unilateral,” said one senior EU official.

一位歐洲高官表示：“我認為，如果在調(diào)查結束時，他們決定采取單邊行動的話，那么我們還沒有準備好支持美國。”

The EU and Japan have, however, indicated that they might be willing to work with the US if Mr Trump’s China fight results in one or more cases being brought against Beijing at the WTO.

然而，歐盟和日本表示，如果特朗普與中國的斗爭導致在WTO針對中國提起一項或更多訴訟的話，他們愿意與美國合作。

Through a spokeswoman, Mr Lighthizer declined to confirm the approaches to the EU and Japan.

萊特希澤通過一位發(fā)言人拒絕證實美國與歐盟和日本的接觸。

Companies from Europe, Japan and the US have increasingly complained about Chinese IP theft, hacking and industrial espionage in recent years. They have also raised growing concerns about rules that force them to take Chinese joint venture partners and transfer sensitive technologies in order to do business in China.

最近幾年，越來越多的來自歐洲、日本和美國的公司指控中國竊取知識產(chǎn)權、非法入侵和從事工業(yè)間諜活動。它們還對中國的一些規(guī)定愈發(fā)擔憂，這些規(guī)定迫使它們?yōu)榱嗽谥袊?jīng)商，與中國合作伙伴組建合資公司并轉(zhuǎn)讓敏感技術。

During a rare public appearance in Washington this week Mr Lighthizer, a longtime China hawk, also sent mixed signals on whether the administration would be willing to take its fight to the WTO.

此外，本周在華盛頓罕見公開露面時，長期對中國持強硬態(tài)度的萊特希澤在美國政府是否愿意把戰(zhàn)斗打到WTO發(fā)出了混雜的信號。

He said the US did not want to “prejudge” the outcome of the IP probe or what actions it might take. “If we turn up WTO violations, we’ll bring them to the WTO,” said Mr Lighthizer. “We’re not precluded from doing that, by any means.”

他表示，美國不希望“預先判斷”知識產(chǎn)權調(diào)查的結果或者可能采取什么措施。“如果我們發(fā)現(xiàn)違反WTO規(guī)定的行為，我們將上訴至WTO，”他表示，“無論如何，我們不排除這么做。”

But he also separately argued that the WTO was not equipped to deal with China, calling Beijing’s economic model state-backed “mercantilism” and “a threat to the world trading system that is unprecedented”.

但他另外辯稱，WTO不具備對付中國的能力，他把中國的經(jīng)濟模式稱為由政府支持的“重商主義”和“對世界貿(mào)易體系的空前威脅”。

“The WTO and its predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, were not designed to successfully manage mercantilism on this scale,” he added. “We must find other ways to defend our companies, workers, farmers, and indeed our economic system.”

“WTO及其前身關貿(mào)總協(xié)定(GATT)的目的不是成功對付這種規(guī)模的重商主義，”他補充稱，“我們必須找到其他方法保護我們的公司、員工、農(nóng)民以及實際上我們的經(jīng)濟體制。”