VOA慢速英語：中國尋求承認(rèn)其市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位

China Seeks Recognition as Market Economy

中國尋求承認(rèn)其市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位

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

中國成為世貿(mào)組織成員國已經(jīng)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(mào)組織提出了申訴。中國官員是在抗議歐美在與中國的貿(mào)易爭(zhēng)端中對(duì)出口商品價(jià)格的計(jì)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(mào)組織。上個(gè)周日，中國與世貿(mào)組織的部分協(xié)議已經(jīng)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(yīng)該獲得市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位。市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位意味著貿(mào)易伙伴必須接受中國出口商報(bào)出的價(jià)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(mào)易伙伴使用了所謂的替代國價(jià)格，據(jù)信這類價(jià)格考慮到了中國出口的實(shí)際成本，它可能包括使得價(jià)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(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位使得其它國家更難用高關(guān)稅來懲罰世貿(mào)組織貿(mào)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(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位。日本和印度也不太可能立即承認(rèn)中國為市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)。

Concerns about selling products below the cost of production

對(duì)低價(jià)傾銷的擔(dān)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(jīng)濟(jì)以10%甚至更高的速度擴(kuò)張近25年之后，現(xiàn)在正在放緩。今年，這個(gè)世界第二大經(jīng)濟(jì)體預(yù)計(jì)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(rèn)為市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位對(duì)該國提升或至少維持貿(mào)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(rèn)為，中國大力支持國有企業(yè)，允許它們降價(jià)在國外市場(chǎng)傾銷商品。傾銷是指以低于本國市場(chǎng)售價(jià)或生產(chǎn)成本進(jìn)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(jīng)濟(jì)項(xiàng)目的負(fù)責(zé)人。

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

他說，“世貿(mào)組織是中國是否遵守對(duì)世貿(mào)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(mào)易爭(zhēng)端中已經(jīng)有16起作出了裁決。在這些已裁決的爭(zhēng)端中，中國輸?shù)袅似渲?3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?qǐng)?bào)》最近的一篇社論表示，讓中國獲得市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位并不是一項(xiàng)需要爭(zhēng)論的議題。該報(bào)紙表示，賦予中國市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位是歐盟和其它世貿(mào)組織成員國的義務(wù)。

Free trade less popular around the world

自由貿(mào)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(duì)中國在世貿(mào)組織地位的分歧加重了人們對(duì)世界各地自由貿(mào)易日益增長的擔(dān)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(rèn)為貿(mào)易保護(hù)主義已經(jīng)在歐洲發(fā)聲。在英國公投脫歐后保護(hù)主義被廣泛報(bào)道。美國候任總統(tǒng)川普也威脅要對(duì)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(xué)產(chǎn)業(yè)和勞動(dòng)關(guān)系學(xué)院的副教授。他說，西方可能的貿(mào)易保護(hù)措施對(duì)中國出口商來說可能是個(gè)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(xiàn)在都在尋求讓中國推進(jìn)自由貿(mào)易，而自由貿(mào)易這個(gè)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(yù)計(jì)世貿(mào)組織將在未來幾天發(fā)布更多關(guān)于中國近期事件的信息。

I'm Mario Ritter.

我是馬里奧·里特。