VOA慢速英語：中國尋求承認其市場經濟地位

China Seeks Recognition as Market Economy

中國尋求承認其市場經濟地位

China just marked 15 years since it became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

中國成為世貿組織成員國已經有15年歷史。

But on Monday, China launched a complaint at the WTO. Chinese officials are protesting the way the United States and European Union calculate prices for exported goods in trade disputes with their country.

但是在星期一，中國向世貿組織提出了申訴。中國官員是在抗議歐美在與中國的貿易爭端中對出口商品價格的計算方式。

China joined the WTO on December 11, 2001. On Sunday, part of China's agreement with the trade group came to an end.

中國于2001年12月11日加入了世貿組織。上個周日，中國與世貿組織的部分協(xié)議已經到期。

Chinese officials say this means the nation, led by the Chinese Communist Party, should have market economy status, also known as MES. The term MES means that trade partners would have to accept prices reported by China's exporters.

中國官員表示，這意味著中國應該獲得市場經濟地位。市場經濟地位意味著貿易伙伴必須接受中國出口商報出的價格。

For the past 15 years, China's trade partners have used what are called "surrogate prices." These prices are believed to take the real cost of Chinese exports into consideration. This may include government assistance that makes prices lower.

在過去15年里，中國的貿易伙伴使用了所謂的替代國價格，據信這類價格考慮到了中國出口的實際成本，它可能包括使得價格降低的政府援助。

Market economy status makes it harder for other countries to punish a WTO trade partner with high tariffs.

市場經濟地位使得其它國家更難用高關稅來懲罰世貿組織貿易伙伴。

However, the European Union, the United States and some other countries do not agree that China should be given MES. Japan and India also are unlikely to immediately consider China a market economy.

但是，歐盟、美國和其它一些國家不同意賦予中國市場經濟地位。日本和印度也不太可能立即承認中國為市場經濟。

Concerns about selling products below the cost of production

對低價傾銷的擔憂

China's economy is slowing now after expanding for about 25 years at a rate of 10 percent or more. This year, the world's second largest economy is expected to grow by less than seven percent.

中國經濟以10%甚至更高的速度擴張近25年之后，現在正在放緩。今年，這個世界第二大經濟體預計增長不足7%。

China considers market economy status important to its efforts to increase or at least support trade levels.

中國認為市場經濟地位對該國提升或至少維持貿易水平的措施來說非常重要。

But many experts say China heavily supports state-owned businesses by letting them cut prices and "dump" goods in foreign markets. The word dumping describes selling exports for a lower price than they are sold in their home market or below the cost of production.

但是很多專家認為，中國大力支持國有企業(yè)，允許它們降價在國外市場傾銷商品。傾銷是指以低于本國市場售價或生產成本進行出口銷售。

Scott Kennedy is director of the Project on Chinese Business and Political Economy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

斯科特·肯尼迪(Scott Kennedy)是華盛頓戰(zhàn)略與國際研究中心中國商業(yè)與政治經濟項目的負責人。

He says, "The most neutral judge of whether China is complying with its WTO commitments is the WTO."

他說，“世貿組織是中國是否遵守對世貿組織承諾最為中立的法官。”

Out of 24 trade disputes, Kennedy says, decisions have been reached in 16. Of those cases, he notes, China has lost 13.

肯尼迪表示，在24起貿易爭端中已經有16起作出了裁決。在這些已裁決的爭端中，中國輸掉了其中13起。

However, a recent editorial in the Communist Party's "People's Daily" said it is not an issue of letting China receive market economy status. The newspaper said it is the "obligation of the EU and other WTO members" to give China MES.

然而，中國《人民日報》最近的一篇社論表示，讓中國獲得市場經濟地位并不是一項需要爭論的議題。該報紙表示，賦予中國市場經濟地位是歐盟和其它世貿組織成員國的義務。

Free trade less popular around the world

自由貿易在全球少受歡迎

The disagreement over China's position in the WTO adds to growing concerns about free trade around the world.

對中國在世貿組織地位的分歧加重了人們對世界各地自由貿易日益增長的擔憂。

Ideas that some people consider protectionist have been voiced in Europe. They became widely reported after Britain voted to leave the European Union. U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has also threatened to place heavy import taxes on some Chinese goods.

有些人認為貿易保護主義已經在歐洲發(fā)聲。在英國公投脫歐后保護主義被廣泛報道。美國候任總統(tǒng)川普也威脅要對一些中國商品征收重稅。

Eli Friedman is an associate professor at Cornell University's Industrial and Labor Relations School. He says the possibility of protectionist measures in the West could be really bad news for China's exporters.

伊萊·弗里德曼(Eli Friedman)是康奈爾大學產業(yè)和勞動關系學院的副教授。他說，西方可能的貿易保護措施對中國出口商來說可能是個壞消息。

He says, "Many countries are now looking to China to push forward on free trade—an agenda that is increasingly unpopular among voters globally."

他說，“很多國家現在都在尋求讓中國推進自由貿易，而自由貿易這個議程在全球選民中越來越不受歡迎。”

The WTO is expected to release more information about China's recent case in the coming days.

預計世貿組織將在未來幾天發(fā)布更多關于中國近期事件的信息。

I'm Mario Ritter.

我是馬里奧·里特。