歐盟擬對中國鋼材提高關(guān)稅

Brussels is taking fresh steps to unblock resistance in EU member states to higher US-style duties on steel allegedly dumped in European markets by China.

布魯塞爾方面擬對中國據(jù)稱在歐洲市場上傾銷的鋼材征收美國式的更高關(guān)稅，為此正采取新的措施消除某些歐盟成員國的阻力。

The attempt to revive a long-delayed plan to toughen EU penalties on dumped steel comes as a deadline approaches for China to be treated as a market economy in trade disputes under World Trade Organisation rules — a prime political goal for Beijing.

歐方試圖重啟拖延已久的計(jì)劃、加強(qiáng)歐盟對傾銷鋼材處罰之際，中國根據(jù)世界貿(mào)易組織(WTO)規(guī)則在貿(mào)易爭端中被視為一個(gè)市場經(jīng)濟(jì)體的截止期限越來越近——獲得市場經(jīng)濟(jì)地位是北京方面的一個(gè)首要政治目標(biāo)。

The issue presents a political challenge for Cecilia Malmstrom, EU trade commissioner, who is trying to reconcile complaints that surging Chinese imports are to blame for collapsing steel prices with anxiety in some member states that a sharp rise in duties would be too protectionist.

這個(gè)問題對歐盟貿(mào)易專員賽西莉亞•馬爾姆斯特倫(Cecilia Malmstrom)構(gòu)成一個(gè)政治挑戰(zhàn)，她正在試圖調(diào)和兩方面的意見：一些成員國申訴，來自中國的進(jìn)口鋼材激增，造成鋼材價(jià)格崩盤，另一些成員國則焦慮地提出，大幅提高關(guān)稅的保護(hù)主義色彩太濃重。

Although the US has slapped a 266 per cent tariff on some steel products from China in 2015, the EU imposed a 21 per cent duty.

雖然美國在2015年對中國的一些鋼材產(chǎn)品開征266%的關(guān)稅，但歐盟只實(shí)行21%的關(guān)稅。

Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission president, has suggested this is “naive” and called for higher duties. But there are concerns that Beijing could strike back with retaliatory duties against European companies that sell to or use raw material from China.

歐盟委員會(huì)主席讓-克洛德•容克(Jean-Claude Juncker)提出，這是“幼稚的”，他呼吁提高關(guān)稅。但也有人擔(dān)心，北京方面可能對在華銷售或者使用中國原材料的歐洲企業(yè)實(shí)行報(bào)復(fù)性關(guān)稅。

EU leaders resolved at a summit last month to settle the matter this year, saying an “urgent and balanced” agreement was required “to safeguard European jobs, ensure fair competition in open markets and preserve free trade”.

歐盟領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人在上月峰會(huì)期間決心在今年解決這一問題，認(rèn)為需要一份“緊急而平衡”的協(xié)議，“以保障歐洲的就業(yè)，確保公開市場的公平競爭，維護(hù)自由貿(mào)易”。

Still, it remains unclear whether a compromise can be brokered in coming weeks. A majority of member states wants to overhaul the regime but a blocking minority — including the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark — has held out against change.

話雖如此，尚不清楚歐盟內(nèi)部是否可以在未來幾周內(nèi)達(dá)成妥協(xié)。多數(shù)成員國希望徹底改革現(xiàn)有制度，但足以否決這一動(dòng)議的少數(shù)成員國(包括英國、瑞典、荷蘭、芬蘭和丹麥)迄今抵制改革。

Some European officials believe this blocking minority is on the brink of collapse. However, there have been no firm indications from member states before EU trade ministers are due to discuss the issue on Friday.

一些歐洲官員認(rèn)為，這個(gè)抵制改革的小集團(tuán)處于崩潰邊緣。然而，在歐盟各國貿(mào)易部長周五討論這一問題之前，各成員國沒有流露確切跡象。

Efforts to find agreement follow the near collapse of Europe’s new trade pact with Canada. That raised doubts over the viability of EU trade policy and means that the push to clarify the treatment of China in trade disputes is being cast as another credibility test.

布魯塞爾方面尋求達(dá)成內(nèi)部協(xié)議之前，歐洲與加拿大的新貿(mào)易協(xié)定幾乎崩潰。那件事對歐盟貿(mào)易政策的可行性提出了疑問，這也意味著，澄清在貿(mào)易爭端中如何對待中國的努力將被視為又一個(gè)可信度考驗(yàn)。