Ministry 'regrets' WTO auto parts decision

时间：2006-10-30 07:25:30

（单词翻译:单击）

Oct. 30 - China's Ministry1 of Commerce defended its duties on imported auto2 parts on Friday and expressed "regret" over the World Trade Organization's decision to launch a panel to oversee3 the issue.

 

The World Trade Organization (WTO) on Thursday announced the establishment of a panel to examine whether China's tariffs5 on imported auto parts violate WTO trade rules, following a joint6 complaint made by the United States, the European Union and Canada.

 

Ministry spokesman Chong Quan said on Friday that the country's import rules were "in line with the commitment China made on joining the WTO and WTO rules."

 

He said the rules are aimed at preventing tariff4 evasion7 by taking advantage of the gap between tariffs on complete vehicles and auto parts.

 

China considers car parts as a whole vehicle if they account for 60 per cent or more of the value of a final vehicle, meaning that imports will be charged the same tariff as a complete vehicle.

 

China's average import duties on whole vehicles have fallen from 80 per cent before it joined the WTO to the current 25 per cent, while duties on auto parts have been cut from 25 per cent to 10 per cent.

 

In a complaint filed at the WTO at the end of March, the European Union and the United States claimed that China was imposing8 a discriminatory tariff regime on foreign car parts. Canada joined them several days later.

 

The two sides held negotiations9 on this issue, but the three powers requested that the WTO to establish the panel after the talks failed to make any progress.

 

"These measures discourage auto manufacturers in China from using imported parts in the assembly of new vehicles," US trade negotiator David Shark told the WTO's dispute settlement body, claiming that the practice could not be justified10 under the global trade body's rules.

 

But commerce ministry spokesman Chong said China had showed great sincerity11 in seeking to resolve the issue through negotiations with the three economies.

 

This is China's first WTO dispute to reach the panel stage. A case brought by the United States against China's duties on semi-conductors was solved through consultations12. Such a WTO investigation13 could last for years before a final judgment14 is reached.

 

Several countries, such as Australia, Japan, Mexico and Argentina, have signed up to the auto parts panel as interested third parties.

 

Overseas automakers have invested heavily in China to set up vehicle parts joint ventures.

 

China imported vehicles and spare parts worth US$13.6 billion last year.

 
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1 ministry kD5x2     
n.(政府的)部；牧师
参考例句：
  • They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
  • We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。
2 auto ZOnyW     
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。
3 oversee zKMxr     
vt.监督，管理
参考例句：
  • Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
  • Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。
4 tariff mqwwG     
n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表
参考例句：
  • There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
  • The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。
5 tariffs a7eb9a3f31e3d6290c240675a80156ec     
关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准
参考例句：
  • British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
  • The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。
6 joint m3lx4     
adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合
参考例句：
  • I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
  • We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。
7 evasion 9nbxb     
n.逃避，偷漏(税)
参考例句：
  • The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
  • The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。
8 imposing 8q9zcB     
adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的
参考例句：
  • The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
  • He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。
9 negotiations af4b5f3e98e178dd3c4bac64b625ecd0     
协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过
参考例句：
  • negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
  • Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。
10 justified 7pSzrk     
a.正当的，有理的
参考例句：
  • She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
  • The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。
11 sincerity zyZwY     
n.真诚，诚意；真实
参考例句：
  • His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
  • He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。
12 consultations bc61566a804b15898d05aff1e97f0341     
n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找
参考例句：
  • Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
13 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查，调查研究
参考例句：
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
14 judgment e3xxC     
n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见
参考例句：
  • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
  • He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

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