歐盟推遲決定是否給予中國市場經濟地位

The European Commission has ducked the opportunity to decide whether to grant China “market economy” status . A conclusion is not expected until the second half of this year.

歐盟委員會(European Commission)擱置了決定是否給予中國“市場經濟”地位的機會，預計要到今年下半年纔會作出定奪。

Giving China market economy status at the World Trade Organisation would make it harder for tariffs to be levied on Chinese industries. Critics say they already benefit from unfair state subsidies.

在世界貿易組織(WTO)給予中國市場經濟地位，將加大對中國工業品徵收關稅的難度。批評人士稱，中國的製成品受益於不公平的國家補貼。

The commission’s recommendation, which had been expected this week, is highly anticipated by European industry, national governments and Washington. The discussion has fed into a broader debate about whether the west should take a tougher line on Chinese trade practices or court Beijing for investment.

該委員會的提案（本來預計在本週提出）受到了歐洲工業界、各國政府以及華盛頓方面的高度期待。歐盟委員會的討論已演變成一場更寬泛的辯論，即西方應該對中國的貿易政策採取更強硬立場，還是迎合北京以獲得投資。

Commissioners debated the issue on Wednesday but did not come to a decision, according to Frans Timmermans, first vice-president of the commission.

歐盟委員會第一副主席弗蘭斯舠默曼斯(Frans Timmermans，見圖)表示，委員們週三辯論了這一問題，但沒有作出決定。

“We had a discussion on the subject this morning, but will come back to it later because the president [of the European Commission] concluded that this issue has to be looked at from all important angles given the subject’s [importance] for international trade and also for the EU’s economy,” he said.

他說：“我們今天上午討論了這一議題，但還會進行討論，因爲鑑於其對國際貿易以及歐盟經濟的（重要性），（歐盟委員會）主席認爲這一問題必須從各個重要角度得到評估。”

Broadly speaking, Europe’s heavy industries are opposed to the proposal, particularly steel and textile makers, who complain that unfair Chinese competition is forcing them to slash jobs in Europe.

大體上說，歐洲的重工業部門反對給予中國市場經濟地位，尤其是那些抱怨中國的不公平競爭正迫使它們在歐洲大幅裁減工作崗位的鋼鐵和紡織品生產商。

But Angela Merkel, German chancellor, said she was “in principle, positive” to China’s position. The UK has also been supportive of Beijing.

但德國總理安格拉默克爾(Angela Merkel)表示，她在原則上支持給予中國這一地位。英國也一直支持北京。

The Chinese government has stated that its WTO accession agreement means that it will automatically be granted “market economy” status by the end of 2016. Opponents say the agreement is not so clear-cut. Brussels must decide this year whether to support or oppose this plan.

中國政府稱，根據入世協定，中國最遲將在2016年底自動獲得“市場經濟”地位。反對者認爲，該協定並非如此簡單。布魯塞爾今年必須對支持還是反對做出決定。

Any decision taken by the Commission would have to be backed by member states. Some are wary about allowing China to compete with domestic industries.

歐盟委員會通過的任何決定都必須得到成員國的一致支持。有些國家不放心讓中國與本國工業進行競爭。