中国・欧州摩擦 世界経済を損なう不公正貿易

The Yomiuri Shimbun June 11, 2013
Unfair trade practices, protectionism hurting growth of world economy
中国・欧州摩擦　世界経済を損なう不公正貿易（6月9日付・読売社説）

International trade disputes have been erupting frequently. It is important to correct unfair trade practices and revitalize the world economy.
　貿易を巡る国際紛争が頻発している。不公正な貿易慣行は是正し、世界経済を活性化させることが重要である。

The European Union recently reached a provisional decision to impose antidumping levies on imports of Chinese solar panels in two stages, saying that Chinese firms are exporting them at improperly low prices.
　欧州連合（ＥＵ）は、中国企業が太陽光パネルを不当に安値で輸出しているとして、中国製パネルに２段階で反ダンピング（不当廉売）関税をかける仮決定を下した。

The EU will impose a tariff of about 12 percent on imported Chinese solar panels until early August, and increase this to an average of 48 percent later if Beijing does not take corrective measures to resolve the issue. The EU will decide by the end of the year on whether to keep the levies in place.
　８月初めまで約１２％を課税し、中国側が是正措置を取らない場合は約４８％に引き上げる。ＥＵは年末に最終決定する方針だ。

According to the EU, Chinese exporters sell their solar panels for as much as 90 percent below a fair market price. They have apparently been trying to increase sales in the EU market, the biggest export market for their products, with scant regard for making a profit.
　ＥＵによると、中国企業は市場価格より９割も安値で販売していた。採算を度外視しても、最大の輸出先であるＥＵ市場に販売を拡大する狙いだったようだ。

Battered by China’s low-priced sales drive, business conditions for their European counterparts have deteriorated. Some have gone bankrupt.
　安値攻勢にさらされて経営が悪化し、倒産に追い込まれた欧州企業も出ている。

EU position understandable

We can understand the EU stance of trying to rectify an unfair trade practice, in line with international rules of the World Trade Organization.
ＥＵが世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）の国際ルールに沿って、不公正貿易慣行の是正を目指す姿勢は理解できる。

The EU will impose a low tariff in the first stage, as it attempts to elicit concessions from China amicably. It also took into account the caution some member nations such as Germany feel about taking tough measures against Beijing.
　ＥＵが第１段階として低率関税をかけるのは、対中強硬策に慎重なドイツなどメンバー国に配慮する一方、中国から穏便に譲歩を引き出したいとの判断がある。

However, China reacted sharply and announced it would launch an investigation into the possible dumping of European wine on its market. This appears to be a tit-for-tat response.
　だが、中国は反発し、ＥＵ産ワインのダンピング調査を発表した。対抗措置とみられる。

As it remains uncertain whether European wine exports actually caused any actual loss to the Chinese market, Beijing’s forceful action can hardly be considered as adhering to international rules.
実害があるのか不透明なだけに、中国の強硬姿勢は、国際ルール逸脱と受け止められても仕方ない。

China and the EU also are at loggerheads over China-made mobile telecommunications equipment. The EU has launched an investigation into possible dumping by Chinese makers. The current situation could degenerate into the mutual imposition of sanctions.
　中国とＥＵは、中国製の通信機器でも対立し、ＥＵがダンピング調査に入った。制裁の応酬に発展しかねない事態である。

EU countries and China have become key trading partners. Should their trade conflict escalate, it would adversely affect the global economy. We hope the EU and China try to settle their disputes as soon as possible through dialogue.
　欧州と中国は互いに主要な貿易相手になっている。対立がエスカレートすれば、世界経済にも悪影響が及ぼう。対話を通じ、早期収拾を目指してもらいたい。

The growing trend toward protectionism in various parts of the world is a cause for concern. This is apparently designed to assist domestic industries while the world economy dawdles toward a full-fledged recovery and some newly emerging economies face a slowdown in growth.
　懸念されるのは、世界経済の本格回復が遅れ、新興国の成長が減速する中、自国産業の支援を意図した保護貿易主義的な動きが各地で強まっていることだ。

Japan claim upheld

In May, the WTO upheld Japan’s claim against a controversial feed-in tariff program introduced by the Canadian province of Ontario. Only companies that meet certain local content levels for renewable energy-related equipment can take part in the program, in which electricity generated from renewable energy sources is sold to power companies at fixed prices.
The WTO ordered the province to take corrective measures.
　カナダ・オンタリオ州が再生可能エネルギーの固定価格買い取り制度で地元企業を優遇した措置について、ＷＴＯは５月、不当だとする日本の主張を認め、カナダに是正を勧告した。

Japan, together with the United States and the EU, have filed claims against China’s export controls on rare earth minerals, as well as Argentina’s import permission system for certain goods, such as automobiles. They referred the issues to the WTO because they wanted action to correct these unfair trade practices.
　日本は米国、ＥＵとともに、中国のレアアース（希土類）の輸出制限措置や、自動車などを対象にしたアルゼンチンの輸入許可制度についても、不公正措置と問題視し、ＷＴＯに是正を訴えた。

The rise of trade protectionism is detrimental to development of the world economy. Japan has to devise a strategy to cooperate with the United States and European countries, while holding on to the WTO rules as fundamental to promoting the global economy.
　保護貿易主義の台頭は、世界経済の発展にマイナスだ。自由貿易推進へ、日本は今後もＷＴＯルールを基本とし、米欧と連携する戦略を練らねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 9, 2013)
（2013年6月9日01時45分  読売新聞）