Wednesday 25 February 2009

Minister Chen on Protectionism in the WSJ

Need a Real Sponsor here

Protectionism Doesn't Pay

China calls on the world's governments to learn from history.

The global financial crisis is no doubt a catalyst for trade protectionism. As the world economy deteriorates, some countries try to boost growth prospects by erecting trade barriers. China calls on these governments not to replay history and revert to protectionism and economic isolationism.

Previous global economic crises were accompanied by frequent trade disputes. The U.S. passage of large-scale tariffs in 1930, for example, triggered a retaliatory global trade war. During the two oil shocks in the 1970s and 1980s, trade frictions emerged when major economies attempted to increase exports by depreciating their currencies. And in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, there was a notable uptick in antidumping actions, countervailing duties and other protectionist measures.

The financial crisis is now spilling over into the real economy, hitting sectors like manufacturing and services. In almost all countries, factories are closing and unemployment is rising, creating political pressure and social problems. More and more governments are strengthening intervention in their economies under the excuse of "economic security," and protecting vulnerable domestic industries by curbing imports from other countries.

Trade protectionism differs from legally acceptable measures to protect trade. It is an abuse of remedies provided by multilateral trade rules. This kind of protectionism is morphing into more complex and disguised forms, ranging from conventional tariff and nontariff barriers to technical barriers to trade, industry standards and industry protectionism.

With the economic crisis worsening, caution must be taken even in employing trade protection measures consistent with World Trade Organization rules. At the G-20 Financial Summit in November 2008, world leaders called for countries to resist trade protectionism and committed themselves to refraining from new barriers to trade and investment, a message strongly echoed by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit at the end of last year and the World Economic Forum held in Davos last month.

History tells us that trade protection measures hurt not only other countries, but eventually the country that erected them in the first place. To counter the Great Depression, the U.S. adopted the Smoot-Hawley Act in 1930, which raised import duties of over 20,000 foreign products significantly and provoked protectionist retaliation from other countries. Faced with that crisis, other countries pursued beggar-thy-neighbor policies that slashed global trade volume from $36 billion in 1929 to $12 billion in 1932. Among the victims, not the least was the U.S. itself, where exports shrank from $5.2 billion in 1929 to $1.2 billion in 1932. Even in the U.S., the Smoot-Hawley Act was widely believed to be a catalyst that aggravated the effects of the Great Depression.

Global trade is now in dire straits. Thanks to shrinking external demand caused by the economic crisis, major trading countries have seen their export growth tumble or have suffered huge contractions. Germany's exports dropped 10.6% in November 2008, compared to the same period the prior year -- the highest one-month drop since 1990. China also experienced negative export growth in November, and a 17.5% decline last month, when compared to the prior year. Protectionist policies would make things even worse, and the consequences would be hard to predict.

In the heat of the crisis, it's critical that all countries refrain from pointing fingers at each other or pursuing their own interests at the expense of others. The financial crisis reflects a chronic illness resulting from global economic structural imbalance and financial risk accumulation, and there is no quick fix to this malady. The fundamental interest of every country is to step up consultation and cooperation and keep international trade smoothly flowing. Healthy international trade can help revive the world economy. During the Great Depression, the U.S. recovered from its economic woes because the Roosevelt administration implemented the New Deal and shunned protectionism.

Today's unprecedented financial crisis has inflicted a severe impact on China and other countries. China's economic growth has slowed, exports have plunged, and unemployment pressure has mounted. Yet even so, China still firmly believes that trade protectionism isn't a solution to the world's problems. In 2008, amid a contraction in global trade, China imported $1.133 trillion worth of goods from countries around the world -- an 18.5% increase over the prior year. These imports are boosting the economic development of China's trading partners. Since the crisis broke out, the Chinese government has put forward a series of measures aiming at stimulating domestic demand. Given the size and openness of our country, the growth in China's domestic markets can be translated into greater market potential and investment opportunities for other countries. This year China will continue to increase imports and send buying missions abroad for large-scale purchase of equipment, products and technology.

China has always championed our mutually beneficial opening-up policy and advocated international economic cooperation. We maintain that the Doha Round of global trade negotiations should be taken forward in a way that meets the interests of members and complies with the multilateral trading system already established. China is ready to stand together with all nations in the world to face up to the challenges of today, tackle the financial crisis through cooperation, and guide the world economy into a new period of prosperity.

Mr. Chen is minister of commerce for the People's Republic of China.

Saturday 21 February 2009

Sino-Philippines dispute (not trade-related)

I know that China has not recognized the jurisdiction of the ICJ and the Philippines, while recognizing the jurisdiction of the Court in general, has excluded the jurisdiction on territorial disputes. However, it is probably still worth exploring the possibility of having the ICJ sort out the dispute, just like Singapore and Malaysia in the recent Pedra Branca case.

Solemn declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China concerning the Philippine Senate Bill 2699 and House Bill 3216

No. 001 February 6, 2009

The Philippine Senate and House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 2699 on January 28 and House Bill 3216 on February 2 respectively, incorporating Huangyan Dao(or the Scarborough Shoal for the Philippines), in Macclesfield Bank, and part of the Spratly Islands into Philippine territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China solemnly declares as follows:
1.In terms of either history, geography, reality or international law, the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Macclesfield Islands, Pratas Islands, as well as the surrounding waters, are the existent territories of the Republic of China. The fact that sovereignty of these areas belongs to our government is undeniable, Taiwan enjoys and deserves all rights accordingly. Any sovereignty claims over, or occupation of, these islands and their surrounding waters will not be recognized by the government of the Republic of China.
2.The Government of the Republic of China calls on the Philippine government to abide by the principles and spirit of the UN Charter, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in order to peacefully solve through dialogue any dispute involving the issue of the South China Sea.(E)


Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China


2009/02/18

On 17 February 2009, the Philippine Congress passed an Act to Define the Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippines (an Act to Amend Certain Provisions of Republic Act No. 3046, As Amended By Republic Act No. 5446, to Define the Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippines, and For Other Purposes). The Act includes Huangyan Island and some islands and reefs of Nansha Islands as Philippine territory. The Government of the People's Republic of China hereby reiterates that Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands have always been a part of China's territory. The People's Republic of China has indisputable sovereignty over these islands and their adjacent waters. Claims to territory sovereignty over Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands by any other country are all illegal and invalid.


China Lodges Stern Protest over Baselines Bill of the Philippines

2009/02/19


On the afternoon of February 18, 2009, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya summoned the Charge d'affaires of the Philippine embassy to China, Maria Barber, to lodge a stern protest over the approval of the 2009 Baselines Bill by the Philippine congress.

"The congress of the Philippines passed the Baselines Bill yesterday, which usurped China's Huangyan Island and some islands of Nansha Islands as Philippine territory," said Wang. "The Chinese government expresses its strong dissatisfaction and stern protest over the adoption of the bill that violated China's sovereignty by the Philippine government, in defiance of the grave concern raised by and repeated protests from the Chinese government," said Wang.

"Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands have always been inalienable parts of the Chinese territory," said Wang, adding that China possesses indisputable sovereignty over the Huangyan Island, the Nansha Islands and adjacent waters. "Territorial sovereignty claims over the Huangyan Island and islands of Nansha Islands by any other country were illegal and invalid," he said.

It is the wish of the Chinese side that the Philippines will take into consideration the bilateral relations, the interests of both peoples and the peace and stability of the South China Sea region, take solid and sufficient measures to stop all the activities that violate China's sovereignty rights, take concrete actions to safeguard the stability of the South China Sea region and ensure the healthy development of bilateral relations, Wang said.

Wednesday 18 February 2009

MOFCOM on neo-protectionism

It seems that MOFCOM will bring more cases in the WTO. This again proved that bad times can be good times for lawyers.

商务部召开新闻发布会(2月16日)
2009-02-16 20:59  文章来源:商务部新闻办公室
文章类型:原创  内容分类:新闻


 2009年2月16日,商务部召开新闻发布会,新闻发言人姚坚发布新闻并回答记者提问。实录如下:

  姚坚:首先发布商务工作四个方面的情况。

  四、关于中国应对贸易摩擦和反对贸易保护主义情况。

  当前,受国际金融危机深化影响,一些国家出台了形形色色的贸易保护措施。这些贸易保护措施主要分为两类:一是滥用世贸规则允许的贸易救济措施,主要是反倾销、反补贴,保障措施和特殊保障措施,简称"两反两保";二是使用传统的关税和非关税壁垒,如有的国家提高进口关税,采取禁止或者限制进口的措施、实施技术性贸易壁垒等,还有的国家在刺激本国经济方案中提出了优先购买本国产品的条款,我们对此深感忧虑。我们反对任何形式的贸易保护主义,主张通过合作和磋商解决国际贸易中存在的问题。我们认为贸易保护措施将使金融危机下本已严峻的经济形势更加困难,各国不应以邻为壑,而应加强合作和磋商,这才符合各国的根本利益。

  商务部高度重视应对贸易摩擦,主张通过磋商来解决问题,切实维护中国企业的利益。我们密切跟踪贸易保护措施的最新动向,采取有效措施积极应对。这些工作主要包括五个方面:一是要强化对广大企业的服务,支持中国企业运用法律手段积极应诉;二是鼓励商协会与国外业界进行沟通和交流;三是进一步完善贸易摩擦预警监控机制,让企业能在第一时间了解贸易摩擦动向;四是加强政府间的双边对话和沟通。目前商务部已经与美国、欧盟、南非、韩国、澳大利亚等 11个国家和地区建立双边贸易救济合作机制,积极开展对话与磋商;五是充分利用世贸组织争端解决机制维护国家利益等。

  通过各方共同努力,近期我国在有效应对贸易摩擦方面,取得了一些列较好的结果。包括最近成功应对欧盟对于中国出口的镀锌板反倾销调查。这是欧盟最大的一起对华反倾销调查,案件的妥善解决有利于我钢铁产品对欧稳定出口,直接关系到10万人的就业。2008年,我们通过磋商和交涉妥善处理了11起贸易争端,为国内的企业赢得了更好的出口市场和更平稳的发展环境。

  最近,在G7财长会议、G20金融峰会、达沃斯论坛等不同场合,各方一再呼吁反对和遏制贸易保护主义。特别是在当前国际金融危机加深的环境下,各国应该更加警惕,防止贸易保护主义措施的滥用。我们也注意到世贸组织从2009年开始加强了对各国"救市"措施的监督和审议,2月9号发表了《经济金融危机及贸易发展相关问题的报告》,审议了2008年9月以来各成员为应对金融危机所采取的新的贸易措施。中方支持WTO采取行动,抑制贸易保护主义泛滥,加强对各国"救市"措施的监督。我们认为WTO及时跟踪各国贸易政策的走向和具体措施,监督成员切实履行承诺,是抵制贸易保护主义抬头,敦促各成员继续奉行贸易开放战略的有效机制和手段。中方支持这一举措,将积极参与相关的贸易政策审议工作。

  中国坚持互利共赢的开放战略,倡导国际经济合作、推进贸易投资便利化。金融危机爆发以来,中国政府积极应对,果断出台一系列扩大内需、保持经济稳定增长的措施。作为一个开放的大国,中国将为其他国家提供更大的市场空间和更多的投资机会。

Why do you need to know something about international law and international orgnizations

The latest reason: to fend off the scam artists. In addition to the
numerous spelling and grammatical errors, the following scam has
another tell-tale sign: the UNDP was not created until in 1965. Indeed
anyone with some knowledge about the history of the UN should tell
this: as any other specialized agencies of the UN, the earliest date
the UNDP could have been established would be 1945, when the UN itself
came into existence. Now a trivia question: Is the WTO also an UN
specialized agency?

I won't be surprised that pretty soon I will receive another email
telling me that I have won something from the "Technical Assistance
Fund that was created in 1935 by the WTO, the IMF and World Bank". Now
Mr. Scam Artist, don't forget to send me my cut of the cash (no check
please) if you ever decide to adopt that idea.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lanyon, Richard <Richard.Lanyon@mwrd.org>
Date: Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Subject: AWARD PRIZE
To:

UNITED NATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Corporate Headquarters,91 Station Road,
West Drayton United Kingdom.


The UNITED NATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM would like to notify you that
you have been chosen by the board of DEVELOPMENT BOARD as the full
recipient of a cash Grant/Donation for your own personal,
educational,Working and business development TO receive the sum of
1,000,000.00 ONE MILLION POUNDS

The UNITED NATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, established 1877 by the
Multi-Million groups and now supported by the FBI,Economic Community
for West African State(ECOWAS)and the European Union (EU). Based on
the random selection exercise of internet websites and millions of
supermarket cash invoices worldwide, you were selected among the
recipients to receive the award sum of 1,000,000.00 GBP (One Million
British pounds starlings) as charity donations/aid from the UNITED
NATION ORGANIZATION ,ECOWAS and EU EUROPIAN UNION in accordance with
the enabling act of Parliament, All beneficiaries email addresses were
selected randomly from over 100,000 internet websites around the
World.

You are required to contact our company representative whom will be in
charge of your claim with the below information:

FULL NAMES :
ADDRESS :
COUNTRY :
SEX :
AGE :
OCCUPATION :
E-MAIL ADDRESS :
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Send all the requested claim information to your allocated claim officer:

Mr. Dan Cole
Email: unverifications@live.com
Tell Number: +447035901229
Claims Processing Agent,
Verifications/Logistic Department.

NOTE: you will be given your secret code number,which you will use in
collecting your ONE MILLION POUNDS, endeavor to quote your
Qualification numbers (NG-022-607AB) in all discussions. All
information is strictly confidential and will only be used for the
purpose to which it is been requested

On behalf of the Board kindly,accept our warmest congratulations.

Warm Regards.
Lanyonr Miccaglla
(Online Announcer UNDP).

Tuesday 10 February 2009

Special Textile Safeguard Expired

While the Special Textile Safeguard against China has expired as of
Dec 31st 2008, China may still be subject to the Transitional
Product-Specific Safeguard Mechanism, which will only expire in late
2013.

商务部外贸司负责人就2009年纺织品问题答记者问
2009-01-23 09:01 文章来源:商务部新闻办公室
文章类型:原创 内容分类:其它
  根据中美、中欧纺织品备忘录,自2009年1月1日起,我国不再对输
美、输欧纺织品实行纺织品出口许可证管理。近一段时间以来,广大纺织出口企业对取消许可证管理后的出口政策和宏观环境十分关心,为此,商务部外贸司负责人
专门就2009年纺织品出口有关问题接受了记者采访。

  问:您能否先简要介绍一下当前中国纺织业的整体情况?

  答:纺织业是中国重要的劳动密集型产业,直接从业人员2000多万,间接涉及上亿人口就业。纺织品问题一直是中国政府和业界的重要关注。

  当前,受人民币升值、生产要素成本上升、流动资金紧张等多种不利因素影响,中国纺织企业的生产经营出现较大困难。特别是进入2008年第三季
度,国际金融危机的蔓延已显现出对我实体经济的负面影响。中国纺织业遭遇内需减缓、外需下降的双重压力。一是固定资产投资减少,2008年前十个月,纺织
行业固定资产新开工项目同比下降7.7%。二是订单下降,如在第104届广交会上,纺织品成交额比上届下降了31.5%。三是企业效益明显下滑,行业内停
产倒闭企业增加,全国规模以上纺织企业就业出现了负增长的局面,中小企业减员情况严重。

  问:在当前情况下,您对今年我国纺织品出口形势有何判断?

  答:2008年以来,中国纺织品出口增速出现下滑。根据中国海关统计,2008年我纺织品服装累计出口1851.7亿美元,同比增长
8.2%,增幅较2007年下降10.7个百分点。从当前经济发展形势看,受劳动力成本上升、人民币升值、主要进口市场消费需求减弱等因素影响,预计
2009年中国纺织品整体出口增速将继续放缓。

  同时,经过2005年一体化后的过渡,有关产品出口潜能已得到充分释放,我们认为,中国与有关国家双边纺织品协议产品不会出现"激增",更不
会对其他出口方造成威胁。近几年国际纺织品贸易稳定发展,充分证明了这一点。我们有理由相信,中国纺织业与主要贸易伙伴的纺织业界在发展过程中可以优势互
补、相互依存,2008年后的双边纺织品贸易将会平稳、健康发展。

  问:刚才您提到了双边纺织品协议问题。您能谈谈协议到期后我国纺织品出口面临的宏观环境以及商务部有关纺织品出口管理政策吗?

  答:2005年全球纺织品一体化后,中国政府从大局出发,就纺织品问题分别与欧盟、美国等达成协议,为双方企业创造了稳定和可预见的
贸易环境,也为有关国家进行纺织产业调整创造了条件。2008年底,上述双边纺织品协议均如期终止。自2009年1月1日起,我国不再实行输美纺织品出口
数量及许可证管理和输欧纺织品出口许可证管理,亦不实行企业经营资质审核。

  当前,国际金融市场急剧动荡,世界经济增长明显放缓,国际经济环境中不稳定因素明显增多,我纺织品出口面临着一些新情况、新问题。个别国家业
界以担心中国纺织品在2008年后会出现"激增"为由,要求其政府与中方续签协议或对中国纺织品采取贸易救济措施。我们注意到,2008年20国集团金融
峰会发表宣言明确提出"在金融不稳定时期,更应力戒保护主义,力戒对投资或商品和服务贸易设置新壁垒"。2008年11月22日,APEC领导人也就全球
经济发表声明,反对各种形式的保护主义。我们认为,2008年后的纺织品贸易应遵循自由贸易原则,进口国不应再人为设置贸易障碍。

  问:在取消出口许可证管理后,您认为应该如何稳定纺织品贸易环境?

  答:正如我前面提到的,目前国际经济环境中不稳定因素增多,我纺织品出口面临着许多新情况、新问题。我们要认真贯彻落实中央经济工作
会议精神,努力保持出口的稳定增长,同时要警惕国际贸易保护主义抬头,未雨绸缪,加强行业协调自律,有序出口,避免因个别产品出口数量过快增长引发有关进
口国业界对我提起贸易救济诉讼,影响我贸易环境的稳定。

  在当前形势下,为贯彻落实科学发展观,保持纺织品等劳动密集型产品出口的稳定增长,商务部已搭建了纺织品出口预警平台,在官方网站定期公布敏
感纺织品出口数据,为企业出口做好预警监测。广大出口企业可以登录商务部网站,查询有关信息。对外,我们将进一步加强与有关国家的对话与沟通,确保平稳过
渡,为我纺织品出口创造良好的外部环境。希望各级商务主管部门要继续做好服务工作,引导企业转变增长方式,调整产品结构;有关行业商协会要充分发挥桥梁和
纽带作用,积极开展自律互律等行业协调工作,主动维持出口秩序,维护我纺织品出口的稳定、可持续发展;广大纺织品出口企业要积极转变观念,尽快适应新形
势,有序安排2009年的出口计划,避免盲目扩张产能,着力提高产品的质量和附加值,争创品牌出口产品,增强我纺织品的国际竞争力和抗风险能力。

  问:针对您刚才提到的纺织品领域的贸易摩擦,您认为,纺织业界能做哪些工作呢?

  答:中国政府鼓励中国纺织业界与相关国家产业进行合作,推动业界就促进双边纺织品贸易进行对话。在当前形势下,希望双方业界能进一步
拓展合作渠道,丰富合作内容,为双方产业实现长远合作共赢创造良好的条件。自2007年起,中国政府在中国最大的交易会--广交会上专门设立了进口展区,
并已经产生了积极的效果。我们欢迎有关国家纺织业界组团参加中国广交会进口展,寻找更多的贸易和合作机会。

  问:对于扩大中国与有关国家纺织业合作方面,您有什么看法?

  答:近年来,随着中国经济的不断发展,国民经济相关产业及国内纺织品服装消费市场的需求在拉动中国纺织业发展的同时,也为世界范围内
的棉花、家纺、服装产品以及先进的纺织机械提供巨大的市场和广阔发展空间。特别是在中国政府采取了一系列扩大进口措施以来,中国的纺织品市场日趋开放,并
蕴藏无限商机。

  首先,中国降低进口关税为各贸易伙伴扩大对华出口创造条件。2008年我国进口平均关税已降至9.8%,自2008年6月1日起,我国又进一
步调低了棉花的进口关税。显而易见,中国这个全球第一大纺织品生产国和拥有13亿人口的纺织品消费国为世界各国和各地区纺织企业扩大对华出口提供了更多机
遇。

  其次,中国国内纺织业发展带动棉花、羊毛、化纤原料、纺织纱线的进口。根据中国海关统计,2008年中国进口棉花34.9亿美元,进口羊毛17.0亿美元,进口纺织用合成纤维7.5亿美元,进口合成纤维纱线15.7亿美元。

  最后,中国内需增长为进口服装提供广阔市场。随着中国国民消费能力的提高和服装消费市场的扩大,中国民众对进口服装的需求不断增长。2007年和2008年1-11月,中国进口服装分别为19.7亿美元和20.9亿美元,同比分别增长14.7%和16.6%。

  问:最近,国外媒体对中国上调纺织品服装出口退税率十分关心,部分媒体甚至认为这是中国对纺织业进行的补贴。您是如何看待这一问题的?

  答:中华人民共和国财政部和国家税务总局于2008年7月31日联合发文,将部分纺织品和服装的出口退税率从11%上调至13%。10月21日,又将出口退税率进一步上调至14%,自11月1日起执行。

  出口退税是对出口货物在国内生产和流转环节征收的增值税和消费税予以抵扣或退还。出口退税符合WTO规则,也是国际惯例。2008年以来,为保持经济平稳较快增长,中国两次提高纺织品服装出口退税率,目前退税率为14%,征退税差为3个百分点。

“Buy China”, the Chinese Wal-Mart and Cut Throat Price Wars

Vice Minister Jiang Zengwei of China's MOFCOM made some interesting remarks at a press conference yesterday:

First, will China adopt a "Buy China" policy following the example of the "Buy America" provision in the US stimulus package? No.

Second, China should try to build some giant national retailers following the model of Wal-Mart.

Third, there should be no "inappropriate promotional tactics" that might push SMEs out of business.

In summary, the future might look like this: there will be some big home-grown retailers (a good name would be Wo-Mai, which means "I sell" in Chinese. If anyone decides to adopt this name in the future, please don't forget to pay me royalties), and they will buy products from all over the world. While they could engage in price wars that cut the throats of foreigners wide open in other countries, no such tactics could be employed in China (as this would obviously be against the national policy to "build a harmonious society").

Interested readers can get more details from the Chinese and English news stories below.

商务部副部长姜增伟就消费热点话题答记者问
2009-02-10 10:02  文章来源:《 人民日报 》( 2009年2月10日 08 版)
文章类型:原创  内容分类:新闻


  2月9日,国务院新闻办在京举办新闻发布会,邀请商务部副部长姜增伟等介绍我国搞活流通、扩大消费有关情况,并就热点话题回答了中外记者提问。

  姜增伟说,经济发展的动力在于最终消费需求。当前国际金融危机尚未见底,经济增长放缓使城乡居民收入增长受到影响,消费心理产生波动,一些消费热点也发生变化。但促进消费的有利因素很多,中央启动内需政策措施的良效正逐步显现,商务部对搞活流通、扩大消费仍充满信心。

  发放消费券是可行的选择

  关于发放消费券问题,姜增伟说,在特殊条件下采取特殊办法,是一个较可行的选择。成都、杭州发放了一些消费券,对拉动消费起到了推进作用。作为尝试或一种临时办法,增加低收入人群收入应作为扩大消费的主要举措,同时也要保证建立覆盖面宽的社保体系。在地方发放消费券的同时,今年初我国为 7400万低收入者发放了一次性补贴,每人100―150元。中国政府两大举措将对消费发挥积极作用,一是医改,一是教改,如果这两项重要措施出台,对中国的市场消费特别是农村消费将产生显效。

  对国内国外商品一视同仁

  对于美国的"购买美国货"一事,姜增伟表示,在经济全球化的前提下,一个国家满足自己的市场,仅仅限于本国的生产是做不到的。中国商品市场 80%以上还主要基于国内生产,但相当一部分商品是需要从国际市场补充或购买的。包括工业原料品、奢侈品、农产品,我们一年要从美国、加拿大、澳大利亚进口小麦、大豆,来弥补国内缺口。每个国家必须要大力发展国际贸易,实现商品大流通,才能发挥各自国家经济的特点,才能满足消费者需求。国家的商品竞争力表现在质量和价格。中国不会实行"购买中国货"政策,只要有需求,不管是国内的商品、国外的商品,我们都一视同仁。

  培育本土流通巨头不是抑制竞争

  商务部提出培育若干家大型流通企业集团,有人担心这会形成行业垄断、抑制市场竞争。对此,姜增伟回应,这是流通企业在市场经济条件下的再构。中国流通企业99%以上是中小企业,这些中小企业占全国中小企业70%。商贸流通企业现有职工8000万,规模小、经营集中度低、效率不高,竞争力无从谈起,不能较好满足社会化大生产或以需求为主导的消费增长方式需要。企业需要规模效应,需要在此基础上增强抗风险能力和竞争力。世界零售巨头沃尔玛2008 年销售额达到3787亿美元,折合人民币2.5万亿,占我国社会消费品零售总额的23.9%。中国目前最大的家电连锁企业是国美,2008年销售额是 1023亿元。我们跟全球大百货企业、大零售企业的差距不是一两年能赶上的,任重而道远。中国必须要有类似于沃尔玛这样的企业,一旦发生自然灾害和突发事件,可将企业自身的商品周转和储备结合起来,迅速做出市场反应。同时,大企业承担社会责任的意识更强。我国流通企业做强做大,主要靠企业通过市场竞争实现,必须坚持市场化取向,政府的支持,主要体现在解决企业发展中的一些政策障碍,比如消除地区封锁,推动流通企业跨区域兼并重组,为企业创造良好竞争环境等方面。

  家政服务将成扩消费新亮点

  姜增伟说,目前大部分家政服务企业规模小,内容单一,员工培训和技能达不到市场的要求和标准。由于管理问题,消费者和用工者之间的纠纷不断发生。现在的家政服务需求还难以满足,消费者不敢接受服务;企业不知道谁需要服务、需要什么样的服务。商务部将推动建立覆盖全社会的家政服务网络中心,提供相关服务信息,并对现有的家政服务企业制定标准和规范,使服务内容、方式、价格、质量都符合当前经济社会发展的水平。形成服务特色,满足不同群体多样化需求,使这类企业成为广大居民信得过、用得好的生活帮手。

  提供家政服务的群体大部分是农民工和"4050"下岗职工,他们的服务热情客观存在,但必须对其加大培训力度,要有统一标准,解决放心消费的问题。这个工作做好了,能有效扩大就业。比如月嫂,现在很多年轻姑娘结婚后都需要月嫂服务,有需求,有服务,又能解决就业,收入也很高,可见家政服务市场前景非常好。

  今明年"农家店"将提供77万多个岗位

  对于"万村千乡市场工程",姜增伟说,一个"农家店"目前安排就业是3.1至3.2人,今年商务部要在已建立26万家的基础上再建15万家" 农家店",在一定程度上有利于增加农民工就业岗位,这还不包括配送中心及其他服务网络,比如农资配套、邮政服务配套等。按计划,到2010年底将建成51 万家"农家店",就目前看,今、明年"农家店"将提供约77.5万个岗位。"万村千乡"受到了农民欢迎,方便了农民消费,尤其是确保了商品质量安全,成为我国农村商品流通体系不可替代的部分。

  重点查处各类促销违法行为

  春节以来,有些商家的促销在一定程度上出现增加消费成本、虚假促销的行为。姜增伟说,商家搞促销是常用手段,在各种促销活动包括打折销售中,我们一定首先要平衡厂家、消费者和商家三者的利益。任何一方伤害他人利益,只顾自身财富扩展和获利的行为,是不对的,且要受相关规定和条例处罚。另外,如果采取不适当的促销行为,挤垮中小企业,或给中小企业带来更多困难,也是不应该的。查处各类促销活动违法行为将是今年扩大消费工作一个重点。

  商品市场价格不会有大的波动

  关于今年国内商品市场价格走势,姜增伟认为,结合"两个市场"看,上半年不会出现大的波动,包括生产资料市场和消费品市场。从1月份生活必需品市场看,粮价基本保持稳定,食用油价格小幅下跌,肉价比去年12月份有所上涨,菜价因为受季节性和节日因素影响,比去年12月份上升了30%。生产资料价格总水平比去年12月份下降1.3%,跌幅比12月份缩小0.5个百分点。随着国际金融危机的影响不断扩展到实体经济,全球经济衰退迹象已非常明显,在这种情况下,原油、铁矿石等产品价格也大幅下降。在此前提下,国家出台的一系列扩大内需措施对于稳定市场价格起到积极作用,也为我们实现全年8%左右的经济增长提供了条件。

Strait Times
Beijing won't have 'Buy China' clause
By Sim Chi Yin, China Correspondent
Feb 10, 2009

BEIJING: - China will not impose a protectionist 'Buy China' clause in its economic stimulus package, a top Chinese official said yesterday, urging all countries to encourage international trade in the current crunch.

Without mentioning the 'Buy America' provision in the United States' stimulus package, Vice- Commerce Minister Jiang Zengwei said China would be even-handed towards foreign and domestic products - implying that Beijing's own four trillion yuan (S$873 billion) programme to pump-prime its economy will not discriminate against foreign businesses as some had feared.

Global demand for China's exports, which provide almost 40 per cent of its gross domestic product, has already collapsed in recent months and would take a further hit if international trade barriers go up.
Answering a question at a press conference, he said: 'We just need to boost consumption, whether it's through domestically made goods or foreign-made goods. Why should one be protectionist under the current circumstances?

'As long as there's demand, we'll treat domestic and foreign products the same way.'

In the US, some lawmakers want to include a 'Buy American' provision in the US$827 billion (S$1.24 trillion) stimulus package before Congress, to support homegrown companies and workers. The Senate last week voted to soften - but not junk - that clause, after President Barack Obama cautioned that the original wording could spark a trade war.

The US has reciprocal obligations under the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organisation to provide trading partners such as Canada, Mexico, Japan and the European Union with access to its government procurement market.

But other countries, including China and India, are not party to those pacts and thus will not be spared.

China's Commerce Ministry yesterday said it was 'seriously concerned' at Indian barriers to its exports. India imposed a six-month ban on imports of Chinese toys last month.

Global demand for China's exports, which provide almost 40 per cent of its gross domestic product, has already collapsed in recent months and would take a further hit if international trade barriers go up.

As Mr Jiang made plain: 'Even in the age of globalisation, no one country can satisfy its own markets from its own production.'

China makes 80 per cent of the goods sold domestically, he noted, but it still needs to import products ranging from raw materials to agricultural goods and luxury items.

Beijing unveiled its massive stimulus plan in November last year to spur domestic demand and drive growth, homing in on investments in transport infrastructure, the power grid and post-earthquake reconstruction, as well as rural development.

Some foreign companies had been worried that Beijing might give local businesses preferential treatment. Mr Jiang's comments yesterday would go some way to assuaging those fears.

On its part, Beijing is keeping its eye on pumping up domestic consumption to help the Chinese economy recover from a sharper- than-expected dip as it feels the full weight of the global financial meltdown.

Despite concerns that mass unemployment among migrant workers and the current drought - the worst in decades - would dampen the spending power of the 750 million rural Chinese, things are looking up, said Mr Jiang.

He noted that retail sales went up 13.8 per cent during the 'golden week' Chinese New Year holiday, exceeding forecast.

He also put his stamp of approval on a scheme by municipal governments to hand out vouchers for residents to buy consumer goods - but did not commit to implementing it nationwide.

While Beijing reportedly stepped in to halt some local governments' measures to jump- start the slumped property market, Mr Jiang termed the voucher scheme 'practical', saying that 'special circumstances call for special measures'.

No data has been collated, but the governments of the eastern city of Hangzhou and south-western Chengdu saw retail sales go up after giving out coupons worth 100 yuan to 200 yuan for low-income families to use in local stores and supermarkets over the Chinese New Year break, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

simcy@sph.com.sg