2019年CRI Trump administration finds convenient excuses for its own economic troubles, economists

 

Chinese economists² are lashing³ back at claims being made by the Trump⁴ administration that China engages in forced technology transfers, suggesting the US President is making up excuses to justify⁵ his desire for a trade war.

Lin Yifu, a senior economist¹ at Peking University, says foreign companies have never been forced to transfer their technologies to Chinese companies when they enter into the Chinese market.

"American companies come to China to invest in its market and to manufacture products for Chinese consumers. It's natural for them to bring their best technologies, in order to enhance the competitiveness of their products in the market."

The economist says that multinationals⁶, especially car makers⁷ who rely on China for a big chunk⁸ of their sales revenue, use their cutting-edge technology to attract consumers in the world's biggest auto⁹ market.

"For instance, in the auto industry, China is by far the world's largest producer and consumer of automobiles¹⁰. On top of the United States, a lot of other countries, including Germany, Japan, and South Korea have operations in China. If automakers like General Motors and Ford¹¹ don't bring their best technologies, how can they gain an advantage over their rivals in the fierce competition of the Chinese market? "

A huge amount of money is invested every year in China into research and innovation. China's research spending has expanded by 20 percent a year since the year 2000. In 2017 alone, investment into R and D (R&D) hit a record high of nearly 1.8 trillion yuan, or 260 billion U.S. dollars.

China also pays out a growing amount of fees to license¹² intellectual property. Fee payments from China to foreign IP owners have risen by 17 percent a year over the past two decades.

Some multinationals have begun to feel the pinch as the buying habits of consumers in the world's second-largest economy change rapidly. And they're facing rising competition from domestic rivals.

Foreign investors¹³ in China long received what was called 'super national treatment', a practice that gives foreign investors preferential tax treatment over domestic enterprises.

But the practice was deemed to be unfair for domestic companies, and since the year 2000 it has gradually been phased out.

Dong Yan, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes it can be difficult for American companies to adapt to the quickly evolving conditions of China's fast-paced market.

"In fact, we don't have any items in the law that requires foreign companies to transfer their technologies. American companies have felt the pressure because China is undergoing an economic transition. For example, the 'super national treatment' for foreign companies in China has been gradually canceled over the years. They now receive equal treatment with their domestic counterparts."

The loss of preferential treatment over their domestic counterparts might be a frustration¹⁴ for foreign enterprises. But as China continues to open wider to the world, it is continuing to offer opportunities for global investors.

1 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

2 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 lashing   

n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• The speaker was lashing the crowd. 演讲人正在煽动人群。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The rain was lashing the windows. 雨急打着窗子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

5 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

6 multinationals   

跨国公司( multinational的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These local companies are only small fry compared with the huge multinationals. 同那些跨国公司比，这些当地的公司不过是小鱼小虾。
• Some people believe that the multinationals have too much power. 有人认为跨国公司的权力太大了。

7 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 chunk   

n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量）

参考例句：

• They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
• The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。

9 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

10 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

12 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

13 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

14 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。