特朗普再次逆轉，美國重燃對華關稅戰(zhàn)火
華盛頓——對中國態(tài)度軟化的批評令特朗普總統(tǒng)受到刺激，加上他不再那么擔心北京破壞美朝峰會的能力，所以周二他改變方向，宣布美國將對中國加征關稅并實施其他懲罰措施。
Barely a week after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the trade war was “on hold” and that tariffs would be suspended as negotiations continued, the White House issued a statement saying the United States would move ahead with its plan to impose 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion worth of imported Chinese goods within the next month.
不到一周前，美國財政部長史蒂文·努欽(Steven Mnuchin)表示，貿易戰(zhàn)“暫停”，并在談判繼續(xù)進行期間擱置關稅提議。到了周二，白宮發(fā)表聲明稱，美國將在下個月內繼續(xù)執(zhí)行對500億美元中國進口商品征收25%關稅的計劃。
Mr. Trump’s reversal was yet another twist in a long-running ideological battle in the West Wing between economic nationalists, who channel Mr. Trump’s protectionist instincts, and more mainstream advisers like Mr. Mnuchin, who worry that tariffs and investment restrictions will hurt the stock market and hobble long-term growth.
特朗普的這次逆轉是白宮西翼曠日持久的思想斗爭的最新轉折，一方是引導特朗普保護主義本能的經濟民族主義者，另一方是努欽等更主流的顧問，他們擔心關稅和投資限制會傷害股市，阻礙長期增長。
The nationalists seem to have won this round. While Mr. Trump is sending Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary, to Beijing this weekend to try again to resolve the dispute, people briefed on the talks said Mr. Trump was frustrated with the first round of trade negotiations and wary of giving Democrats an opening on one of his core issues.
這一輪似乎是民族主義者贏了。雖然特朗普派商務部長威爾伯·羅斯(Wilbur Ross)本周末前往北京，再次嘗試解決爭端，但知情人士表示，特朗普對第一輪貿易談判感到沮喪，擔心在核心問題之一中給民主黨提供了一個批評他的把柄。
The trade offensive comes at a sensitive moment, days after Mr. Trump pulled out of his planned June 12 meeting with the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un, after suggesting that China played a role in derailing the encounter. But the president has since expressed more optimism about the meeting, and negotiators from Washington and Pyongyang have scrambled to reinstate it, giving Mr. Trump a freer hand to resume his tough approach to America’s greatest economic adversary.
此次貿易攻勢發(fā)生在一個敏感的時刻，此前幾天，特朗普取消了6月12日與朝鮮領導人金正恩(Kim Jong-un)會面的計劃。此前，他曾表示，中國在破壞這次會晤中起了作用。但后來，總統(tǒng)對會晤表達了更樂觀的態(tài)度，華盛頓和平壤的談判代表也在倉促地恢復計劃，特朗普因此得以放手恢復對美國最大的經濟對手的強硬態(tài)度。
In addition to the renewed trade threat, the United States has hardened its military posture toward China, canceling an invitation for the Chinese to take part in a large Pacific naval exercise and sailing two Navy warships past a handful of disputed islands in the South China Sea. The administration is pushing back against China’s installation of military facilities in the heavily trafficked waterway.
除了新的貿易威脅，美國還加強了對中國的軍事制衡，取消了對中國參加大型太平洋海軍演習的邀請，并派遣兩艘海軍軍艦在南海幾個爭議島嶼附近航行。特朗普政府正在抵制中國在這一交通繁忙的水道上修建軍事設施。
“On every issue, the balance of power in this administration leans toward a more hostile and adversarial relationship with China,” said Jeffrey A. Bader, a former top China adviser to President Barack Obama.
“在所有問題上，本屆政府的權力平衡傾向于對中國采取更敵對的態(tài)度，”貝拉克·奧巴馬總統(tǒng)的前中國高級顧問杰弗里·A·貝德(Jeffrey A. Bader)表示。
But Mr. Bader cautioned that Mr. Trump’s threat of tariffs could still be a purely tactical move and a cudgel to force concessions from China, similar to the approach he has used with several of America’s closest trading partners.
但貝德警告稱，特朗普的關稅威脅可能依然是一種純粹的戰(zhàn)術行動，旨在迫使中國做出讓步，類似于他對美國幾個最親密的貿易伙伴所采取的做法。
“To me, it is not at all clear that Trump has turned his back on a deal,” he said.
“我覺得，現(xiàn)在完全不能確定特朗普是否已不打算達成協(xié)議，”他說。
Last week, the administration announced a sweeping new investigation that could result in tariffs on imported automobiles — a move trade experts said was designed to ramp up pressure on Mexico and Canada in negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement.
上周，特朗普政府宣布要進行一項全面的新調查，可能導致對進口汽車征收關稅。貿易專家們表示，此舉意圖在《北美自由貿易協(xié)定》(North American Free Trade Agreement)談判中增加對墨西哥和加拿大的壓力。
On Friday, temporary exemptions to steel and aluminum tariffs that the White House granted to the European Union, Canada and Mexico are set to expire, raising the question of whether the countries will fold to Mr. Trump’s trade requests or retaliate.
截至本周五，美國給予歐盟、加拿大和墨西哥的鋼鋁關稅臨時豁免將到期，這將引發(fā)一個問題，那就是，這些國家是會屈服于特朗普的貿易要求，還是進行報復。
Hours after the tariffs on China were announced, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce accused the White House of going back on its word, even as it hinted that Beijing expected such a reversal.
向中國征收關稅的聲明宣布數(shù)小時后，中國商務部指責白宮背棄承諾，盡管它暗示北京預料到會出現(xiàn)這樣的逆轉。
“We feel surprised by the tactical statement issued by the White House, and yet it was also unsurprising,” a statement from the ministry said, adding that China would “defend the interests of the Chinese people and core national interests.”
“我們對白宮發(fā)布的策略性聲明感到出乎意料，但也在意料之中，”中國商務部的一份聲明表示。聲明還表示，中國將“捍衛(wèi)中國人民利益和國家核心利益”。
“This is clearly contrary to the consensus that China and the U.S. reached not long ago in Washington,” the statement said.
“這顯然有悖于不久前中美雙方在華盛頓達成的共識，”該聲明表示。
The last round of trade talks ended on May 19 with the two sides issuing an upbeat but vague joint statement that revealed little progress toward resolving a long list of complaints from the American negotiators. Mr. Trump, who made getting tough on China a centerpiece of his campaign, has often talked about challenging what he believes are its unfair trade practices.
在5月19日結束的最后一輪貿易談判中，中美雙方發(fā)表了一份樂觀但措辭模糊的聯(lián)合聲明，表明在解決美國談判代表提出的一系列抱怨方面進展甚微。特朗普在競選總統(tǒng)期間把對中國采取強硬態(tài)度作為核心策略，經常談到要挑戰(zhàn)他認為的不公平貿易做法。
But his advisers are deeply divided over how best to do it. Some, like Mr. Mnuchin and Mr. Ross, are focused on a compromise deal that would require China to buy huge amounts of American products to reduce its trade surplus, while still forestalling the possibility of a trade war.
但他的顧問們對如何最好地實現(xiàn)這一點意見不一。努欽和羅斯等人專注于達成一項折衷協(xié)議，要求中國購買大量美國產品，以減少貿易順差，同時防止出現(xiàn)貿易戰(zhàn)。
Others like Peter Navarro, a top White House trade adviser, and Robert Lighthizer, the United States trade representative, have pushed for tougher action. They want China to undertake radical reforms, ending the subsidies it provides to developing industries and allowing American companies equal access in the Chinese market.
其他人——比如白宮高級貿易顧問彼得·納瓦羅(Peter Navarro)和美國貿易代表羅伯特·萊特希澤(Robert Lighthizer)，則推行更為強硬的措施。他們希望中國進行徹底的改革，停止對發(fā)展中產業(yè)提供補貼，并允許美國公司平等進入中國市場。
Hours after Mr. Mnuchin said a trade war was on hold, Mr. Lighthizer, who has been leading the investigation into China’s trade practices, issued a statement that was viewed as a repudiation of his colleague. He said that “real work” still needed to be done to make changes in the Chinese system, and that the United States would use “all of its legal tools to protect our technology through tariffs, investment restrictions and export regulations.”
在努欽表示貿易戰(zhàn)暫停的幾小時后，一直領導著中國貿易行為調查的萊特希澤發(fā)表了被認為在否定同僚的言論。他表示，要改變中國制度，還要做些“實際工作”，并且美國將會用上“自己的所有法律手段，通過關稅、投資限制和出口管制來保護我們的技術”。
Mr. Trump’s handling of a Chinese telecom company, ZTE, became another flash point. On Friday, he said he had reached a deal that would allow the firm, which was recently banned from buying American components as punishment for violating United States sanctions, to remain in business. That prompted a slew of criticism from lawmakers that he was backing off his tougher promises on trade and letting a Chinese telecom company that did business with Iran and North Korea off the hook.
特朗普對中國電信公司中興的處理成了又一個導火索。周五，他表示已達成一項協(xié)議，將允許這個近期因違反美國制裁而被罰禁止購買美國零部件的公司繼續(xù)其業(yè)務。這招致了立法者的大量批評，認為這是在放棄貿易上的更強硬措施，放過了這個與伊朗和朝鮮做生意的中國電信公司。
“Yes they have a deal in mind. It is a great deal... for #ZTE & China,” Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, said in a tweet.
“他們是在考慮一個協(xié)議。是個不錯的協(xié)議……對#中興 和中國而言，”佛羅里達州共和黨參議員馬爾科·魯比奧(Marco Rubio)發(fā)推說。
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, tweeted, “If the administration goes through with this reported deal, President Trump would be helping make China great again.”
紐約州參議員、民主黨領袖查克·舒默(Chuck Schumer)發(fā)推說，“如果政府通過了這份傳聞的協(xié)議，特朗普就是在幫助中國恢復偉大榮光了。”
Those swipes rankled Mr. Trump, according to current and former White House officials. In a midterm election year, they said, the president does not want to leave an opening to Democrats on trade. Mr. Trump expressed his unhappiness to Mr. Mnuchin, who had urged him to settle the ZTE issue and seek a trade truce with Beijing.
據(jù)白宮現(xiàn)任及前任官員稱，特朗普對這些抨擊耿耿于懷。他們表示，在中期選舉年中，總統(tǒng)不希望在貿易上給民主黨人留下機會。特朗普對敦促他解決中興問題、尋求與北京停止貿易戰(zhàn)的努欽表達了不滿。
“There may be some momentary confusion, but his default position is, you’ll never get to the right of him on China,” said Stephen K. Bannon, who served as Mr. Trump’s chief strategist and is a leader of the nationalist movement.
“可能會有一時的混亂，但他的默認立場是，你們永遠都不會在中國問題上看清他的道理，”曾任特朗普首席戰(zhàn)略師、民族主義運動領袖斯蒂芬·K·班農(Stephen K. Bannon)說。
In April, the administration detailed a list of Chinese goods that would be subject to tariffs, including flat-screen TVs and medical devices. It then held a series of hearings on the tariffs, giving the public a chance to influence the targeted products.
四月，政府詳細列出了受限于關稅的中國商品，其中包括平板電視和醫(yī)療設備。隨后又舉行了一系列的關稅聽證會，讓公眾參與目標產品的甄選。
On Tuesday, White House officials said that they would issue the final list of goods subject to the tariffs by June 15, and impose the duties shortly after that. Mr. Trump has also threatened additional tariffs on $100 billion of Chinese products that, for now, will not go into effect.
周二，白宮官員表示，他們會在6月15日前公布將受限于關稅的最終貨物清單，并會在不久后施行這些關稅。特朗普還威脅要對1000億美元的中國商品加征額外關稅，不過這目前還不會生效。
China’s explosive rise was a shock to the global trading system. For decades, Western economies like the United States have struggled with the growth of this economic powerhouse.Published OnMay 15, 2018CreditImage by Doug Mills/The New York Times
中國的爆炸性增長對全球貿易體系來說是一個沖擊。幾十年來，像美國這樣的西方經濟體一直糾結于這個經濟強國的壯大。
The White House also said it would move forward with restrictions on Chinese investment and with stronger export controls to limit the access that Chinese people and companies have to American technology — a measure the administration said was for national security purposes.
白宮還表示，它將推進對中國的限制并加強出口管控，以限制中國人和中國公司接觸美國科技——政府稱，這種措施是出于國家安全考慮。
Those restrictions will be announced by June 30 and adopted soon after that, the administration said, adding that the United States would also continue to pursue a trade case it filed against China at the World Trade Organization involving intellectual property rights.
美國政府表示，這些限制規(guī)定將于6月30日前公布并會盡快實施。還稱美國會繼續(xù)追究它在世貿組織對中國提起的知識產權貿易訴訟。
Mr. Schumer offered the president highly conditional praise. “This outline represents the kind of actions we have needed to take for a long time, but the president must stick with it and not bargain it away,” he said in a statement.
舒默向總統(tǒng)提出了一個有條件的贊揚。“這個大綱代表著我們在很長一段時期內需要采取的行動，但總統(tǒng)必須堅持下去，而不是在討價還價中輕易放棄，”他在一份聲明中表示。
Representative Richard E. Neal, Democrat of Massachusetts, said the administration was merely trying to save face “by rattling its saber with new deadlines,” after having undermined American national security interests by easing penalties on ZTE.
馬薩諸塞州民主黨議員理查德·E·尼爾(Richard E. Neal)表示，政府無非是在撤銷了對中興的懲罰、破壞了美國國家安全利益之后，“通過新的最后期限嚇唬人，”以挽回顏面。
“Without a coherent strategy,” he said, “it’s hard to see the renewed commitment to threatening tariffs and investment restrictions as anything but more bluster and chaos.”
“沒有一致的策略，”他說，“很難讓人不把這種對關稅威脅、投資限制重燃的熱情看成是更多的恐嚇和混亂。”
Mr. Trump’s willingness to cut a deal on ZTE also raised questions about his motives, given that days before he said he would help the company, China granted his daughter, Ivanka Trump, seven new trademarks across a broad collection of businesses, including books, housewares and cushions.
特朗普愿意在中興問題上達成協(xié)議，也讓人質疑他的動機。鑒于在他表示將會幫助這家公司的前幾天，中國批準了他的女兒伊萬卡·特朗普的七個新商標，涉及書籍、家居用品、靠墊等一系列行業(yè)。
Mr. Trump’s latest trade moves have provoked retaliation from China, which has promised its own potential tariffs on $50 billion in American goods. Chinese officials say they do not dismiss anything as an idle threat.
特朗普最新的貿易舉措已經引來了中國的報復，中國已經承諾，可能會對500億美元的美國商品加征關稅。中國官員表示，他們不會把這些當作空洞的威脅來看待。
“We have to consider this seriously — we have to listen to his words and watch his actions,” Li Gang, the vice president of the Commerce Ministry’s research and training institute, said in a recent interview in Beijing.
“我們必須認真考慮這一點——我們必須聽其言、觀其行，”商務部研究院副院長李剛近期在北京接受采訪時說。
