中國的貿易行為受到抨擊

Recently BBC New on-line reported the following:

China's trade practices come under fire

Katie Silver - Business reporter BBC

Thu., October 21, 2021, 4:39 a.m.

China's trade policies have come under strong criticism during a review at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The US accused China of "skewing the playing field" by using "unfair trade practices" such as preferential treatment for state businesses.

Meanwhile Australia said the country's behavior was "inconsistent" with its WTO commitments.

China said it was committed to deepening reform and opening up its economy.

WTO reviews are typically quite routine. Mandated in the organisation's agreements, the trade policies of member countries are examined and evaluated at regular intervals.

For the biggest countries, such as China, this happens every two years.

This December marks 20 years since China joined the WTO, but critics say the country's market reforms have been inadequate.

 Trade rules 'tested'

At the WTO review in Geneva, Australia said China had benefited "significantly" since it joined the WTO, but argued it was not acting fairly.

In the past 18 months, China has imposed restrictions on many Australian exports including barley, coal, sugar, wine and beef.

"China has increasingly tested global trade rules and norms by engaging in practices that are inconsistent with its WTO commitments," the Australian government said in a statement.

"By undermining agreed trade rules China also undermines the multilateral trading system on which all WTO members rely."

Tensions between Australia and China have hit their lowest level in decades [sic], in part triggered by Australia calling for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

The US was similarly critical. Charge d'affaires David Bisbee listed what he called China's "unfair trade practices" including preferential treatment for state enterprises, data restrictions, inadequate enforcement of intellectual property rights and cyber theft,

"We also cannot ignore reports of China's use of forced labour in several sectors," Mr Bisbee said, in an apparent reference to allegations of Uighurs being subjected to forced labour camps in Xinjiang.

Trade sources told the Reuters news agency that Britain, Canada, the European Union and Japan have also called for reforms to make the world's second-largest economy more free and open.

China's Commerce Minister, Wang Wentao, told the meeting: "Since the last review, China has stayed committed to deepening reform, expanding, opening up and growing its open economy at a higher level.

 "China has been reinforcing intellectual property protection by legislative, administrative and judicial means, and fulfilling its obligations on transparency."

Translation

在世界貿易組織（WTO）的評核中，中國的貿易政策受到了強烈批評。

美國指責中國通過對國有企業採取優惠待遇等“不公平貿易做法”，“扭曲了競爭環境”。

與此同時，澳大利亞表示該國的行為與其對世貿組織的承諾“不唿合”。

中國表示將致力於深化改革和開放經濟。

世貿組織的評核通常是相當常規的。根據該組織的協議，成員國的貿易政策會定期接受審查和評估。

對於最大的國家，例如中國，這種情況每兩年發生一次。

今年 12 月是中國加入世貿組織 20 週年，但批評人士稱中國的市場改革力度不夠。

貿易規則“測試”

在日內瓦世貿組織審查中，澳大利亞表示中國自加入世貿組織以來“顯著”受益，但指稱其行為不公平。

在過去的 18 個月中，中國對澳大利亞的許多出口產品實施了限制，包括大麥、煤炭、糖、葡萄酒和牛肉。

澳大利亞政府在一份聲明中說：“中國通過從事不符合其世貿組織承諾的做法，越來越多地考驗了全球貿易規則和規範。”

“通過破壞商定的貿易規則，中國也破壞了所有世貿組織成員所依賴的多邊貿易體系。”

澳大利亞和中國之間的緊張局勢[使关係]降至幾十年來的最低水平，部分原因是澳大利亞呼籲對冠狀病毒大流行的起源進行國際調查。

美國也同樣持批評態度。David Bisbee代辦列出了他所謂的中國“不公平貿易行為”，包括對國有企業的優惠待遇、數據限制、知識產權執法不力和網絡盜竊。

David Bisbee 說: “我們也不能忽視有關中國在幾個部門使用強迫勞動的報導，” 這顯然是指維吾爾人在新疆遭受強迫勞動營的指控。

貿易消息人士告訴路透社，英國、加拿大、歐盟和日本也呼籲進行改革，使這個世界第二大經濟體更加自由和開放。

中國商務部部長Wang Wentao在會上表示：“自上次審議以來，中國始終致力於在更高水平深化改革、擴大開放和發展開放型經濟。

“中國一直通過立法、行政和司法手段加強知識產權保護，履行透明度義務。”

              So, the US accuses China of "skewing the playing field" by using "unfair trade practices" such as preferential treatment for state businesses. Meanwhile Australia says that China's behavior is "inconsistent" with its WTO commitments. I think this war of words will continue in the foreseeable future.