欧盟不可能解除对中国的贸易壁垒

AS IT IS 2016-02-24 EU Unlikely to Lift Trade Barriers on China 欧盟不可能解除对中国的贸易壁垒

The European Union is unlikely to lift some trade barriers on China later this year because of worries that Chinese exports will lead to job loss in member nations.

That is what the European Chamber¹ of Commerce in Beijing said in a report announced Monday.

Earlier this month, workers representing trade unions in 17 countries demonstrated in Brussels. Some carried signs that read: “Stop China Dumping” and “Say No to MES for China.” MES means Market Economy Status.

The unions blame both China and Russia for creating job losses. Job growth in Europe has been slow for 19 straight months up to last December.

Joerg Wuttke is president of the European Chamber of Commerce in China. He says unrest is making it extremely difficult for European politicians to support China’s request for being granted the status of a market economy.

Dumping of goods is one concern

The European Parliament has discussed China’s market economy status request. If it is granted, the move would reduce trade barriers and make it easier for Chinese exports flow to Europe.

Critics warn that could lead to the dumping of goods at unfairly low prices. In trade, dumping is defined as selling a product in a foreign country at below its price at home.

“My personal observation of the parliament is that it is pretty much unified² that China is challenging jobs in Europe and it doesn’t matter whether you are a north or south (of Europe) parliamentarian,  you are pretty much against it,” Wuttke said.

The group says Chinese companies have machine overcapacity and low demand. Companies have tried to export surplus steel, which has pushed down global prices. Factories in Europe have closed.

It has also resulted in a growing number of anti-dumping investigations³ into Chinese products, the European business group said.

Job losses remain a worry in EU and China

The European Chamber of Commerce released a report entitled, “Overcapacity in China.” Wuttke said researchers estimate job losses in Europe could be between 100,000 and 10 million.

However, China needs to export more goods to save jobs at home. The group of countries that make up the European Union is China’s biggest trade partner. But, the EU has introduced anti-dumping cases that can block the flow of Chinese goods.

China has been open about the problem as it has offered a plan to close down so-called “zombie” corporations. These companies continue to make more than they sell, and keep workers on wage rolls though their machines are idle.

The government’s plans include cutting 100 million to 150 million tons of low-end steel capacity and 500 million tons of coal production.

But the government is reluctant to follow through on its own plans because of the massive job losses that would follow. Preserving jobs remains⁴ a key concern.

Last year, a state-owned coal company laid off 100,000 workers over a three-month period. Hundreds of thousands in the coal and steel sector⁵ could lose their jobs in the coming months.

Government still supports growth

Wuttke said some government agencies are encouraging some businesses to grow even as they struggle with overcapacity.

According to the chamber, only one of the eight industry sectors⁶ it studied was not affected⁷ by overcapacity. All others were suffering from extremely low demand for the amount of goods they can produce.

Regional governments and local banks are encouraging such companies because they continue to chase economic growth. They are also blocking mergers⁹ and acquisitions because they are worried about the tax losses that could bring.

Words in This Story

overcapacity –n. the situation in which a company or industry produces more of something than it can sell

dilemma¹⁰ –n. a situation in which you have to make a difficult choice

idle –adj. not being used, not working

challenging –adj. difficult, often in a way that can be rewarding

encouraging –adj. causing a hopeful feeling

sectors –n. a part of the economy

merger⁸ –n. the act of combining two or more businesses

acquisition –n. when a business buys or acquires another business

1 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

2 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

3 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

8 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

9 mergers   

n.（两个公司的）合并( merger的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Mergers fall into three categories: horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate. 合并分为以下三种：横向合并，纵向合并和混合合并。 来自辞典例句
• Many recent mergers are concentrated within specific industries, particularly in retailing, airlines and communications. 现代许多合并企业集中进行某些特定业务，在零售业、民航和通讯业中更是如此。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

10 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。