2016年CRI European expert: protectionism dangerous for Europe

European expert: protectionism dangerous for Europe

As a condition for being admitted to the World Trade Organisation¹, China agreed in 2001 that other members could treat it as a "non-market economy" for 15 years ending on December 11, 2016. 

That gave trade partners the advantage of using a third country's prices to gauge² whether China was selling its goods below market value and made it relatively³ easy for aggrieved⁴ parties to prosecute⁵ anti-dumping claims against China.

The expiration⁶ on Sunday requires WTO members to end this "surrogate country system."

However last month, the European Commission presented its long-awaited proposal for a new methodology for anti-dumping investigations⁷, obviously linked to the scheduled expiration of the current "non-market status" treatment toward third countries, including China. 

If approved, it will ensure that the bloc's trade defence arsenal⁸ could maintain an equivalent level of protection.

In an interview with China Radio International, Bernard De Wit, with the Belgian-Chinese Economic and Commercial Council (BCECC) suggested the EU fulfill⁹ its commitment.

"I would say legally speaking you have commitment to sign and normal procedure would be granted to China this status. But politically speaking, we will have to see we are not at an easy time because economy is some countries is not going so well."

The European Commission proposal came just months after the EU Parliament said in a resolution that China's excess production capacity and cheap exports were hurting EU employment, and urged that China should not be granted Market Economy Status.

De Wit says rising protectionism is posing a threat to economic globalization and some Chinese enterprises in Europe have indeed become victims of this trend.

"People don't see when a Chinese company sets up a foreign branch, jobs will be provided by the company. Instead, they see competition. This creates difficulties. This creates anger. This is not easy to deal with."

He further warns that it's dangerous for the EU to turn to protectionism.

"I think the anti-dumping measures at beginning are purely¹⁰ technical measures, but now they are political measures. Now it becomes more political. We should avoid going too far in these measures."

China is the EU's second-largest trading partner, with daily bilateral¹¹ trade exceeding 1 billion euros, about 1.13 billion U.S. dollars.

De Wit also suggests the two sides enhance communication over the issue.

"Personally, I think we should go ahead with the treaty with China which is also better for a bigger picture and not having each country going apart. We will lose from that."

So far, more than 80 WTO members including Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland, have given up the surrogate country approach towards China.

Beijing has urged Brussels to strictly¹² fulfill its obligation without any additional conditions by the due time.

1 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

2 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 aggrieved   

adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• He felt aggrieved at not being chosen for the team. 他因没被选到队里感到愤愤不平。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She is the aggrieved person whose fiance&1& did not show up for their wedding. 她很委屈，她的未婚夫未出现在他们的婚礼上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

6 expiration   

n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物

参考例句：

• Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
• This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。

7 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。

8 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

9 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

10 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

11 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

12 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。