Green Dam discussion at IELP blog

The PC Filtering Software Issue

From USTR:

Today U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk sent a joint letter to their counterparts in China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) urging China to revoke a proposed rule (Circular 226) that would mandate that all computers produced and sold in China pre-install a widely-criticized Chinese Internet filtering program called Green Dam. This proposed measure is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2009.

The letter points out that the proposed new rule raises fundamental questions regarding regulatory transparency and notes concerns about compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, such as notification obligations. Locke and Kirk also listed for MIIT Minister Li Yizhong and MOFCOM Minister Chen Deming numerous concerns raised by global technology companies, Chinese citizens, and the worldwide media about the stability of the software, the scope and extent of the filtering activities and its security weaknesses. All of these problems have serious implications for consumers and businesses

"China is putting companies in an untenable position by requiring them, with virtually no public notice, to pre-install software that appears to have broad-based censorship implications and network security issues," Locke said.

"Protecting children from inappropriate content is a legitimate objective, but this is an inappropriate means and is likely to have a broader scope. Mandating technically flawed Green Dam software and denying manufacturers and consumers freedom to select filtering software is an unnecessary and unjustified means to achieve that objective, and poses a serious barrier to trade," Kirk said.

Both U.S. government officials offered China an opportunity to exchange views with U.S. and Chinese government and industry officials on ways in which parental control software can be promoted in the market consistent with the goals of user choice, system reliability, freedom of expression, and the free flow of information.

The USTR press release doesn't say much about the legal theory, and the letter that is mentioned has not, as far as I know, been made public.  So what is the legal claim?  The WSJ explains it as follows:

U.S. officials argue the tight deadline for implementing the software requirement constitutes an unfair trade barrier. PC makers have expressed concerns about being able to meet the July 1 start date.

Foreign and domestic PC makers in China are required to begin shipping computers with the software on July 1, so the U.S. would have to show Chinese manufacturers had more notice or information to meet that deadline for a WTO complaint to succeed.

More from Bloomberg here. 

Posted by Simon Lester on June 24, 2009 at 06:06 PM | Permalink

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Comments

Joe said...

So, how many computers sold in the US are produced in China? Would computers sold here to US consumers come pre-installed with Chinese software?

Reply June 25, 2009 at 06:41 AM

Julia Qin said...

There is a WTO-plus obligation of China in the Accession Protocol that may serve as a legal basis for the US complaint: China is required to "provide a reasonable period for comment to the appropriate authorities before [new] measures are implemented". The Green Dam rule was made public in early June, and the implementation date is July 1. The less-than-a-month period is probably not reasonable.

Reply June 25, 2009 at 09:12 PM

Henry Gao said...

I think there are at least two possible legal claims:
1. MFN. The software only has Windows version and doesn't have a Mac version. This means either Apple computers can be sold in China without pre-installing the software, or that Apple computers cannot be sold in China at all. Either way it's a violation of MFN;
2. Domestic content requirement: As the software is a domestically produced in China, requiring it in imported products would amount to a domestic content requirement in violation of TRIMS.

Reply Edit Delete The time to edit this comment has expired. June 25, 2009 at 11:05 PM

First insider appointed to the AB

The DSB appointed on the 19th two new AB members. One is Prof. Peter Van den Bossche, currently teaching Law at Maastricht University. When he assumes the office in December, he will be the first AB Member who has worked inside the AB Secretariat before - he was Counsellor and at one time Acting Director of the AB Secretariat from 1997 to 2001. It would be interesting to see whether his prior experience at the ABS would have any impact on his jurisprudence as an AB Member.

Will the US bring a complaint in the WTO?

US lodges China censorship complaint

By Richard Waters and Joseph Menn in San Francisco and Daniel Dombey in Washington and Kathrin Hille in Beijing

Published: June 21 2009 22:31 | Last updated: June 21 2009 22:31

The US has complained officially to China over its strict new internet censorship rules as tension builds over an issue causing consternation among international technology companies and Chinese internet users.

The development is a rare direct intervention by the US over internet freedom, which has steadily risen in importance as an issue between the two countries in recent years. US technology companies see it as a back-door way of keeping them out of the Chinese market.

China has ordered PC makers to load internet filtering software from a Chinese company, Green Dam, on all machines on sale from July 1. The order, officially directed at filtering pornography, could give officials far more power to block political content as well.

"We view with concern any attempt to restrict the free flow of information," said Ian Kelly, a State department spokesman.

"Efforts to filter internet content are incompatible with China's aspirations to build a modern, information-based economy and society."

The US embassy in Beijing said representatives had met officials at the ministry of industry and information technology and the ministry of commerce on Friday.

"We are concerned about Green Dam both in terms of its potential impact on trade and the serious technical issues raised by the use of the software," Mr Kelly said. "We have asked the Chinese to engage in a dialogue on how to address these concerns."

Chinese officials took action against Google last week, ordering the search company to block access to international sites.

Beijing claimed the action was a punishment for linking to pornographic material, but US internet executives say it was designed to direct public anger against a foreign service and distract attention from the Green Dam affair. Google has recently gained ground in China on local rival Baidu.

Silicon Valley began to argue for internet censorship to be treated as a trade issue three years ago after Google and Yahoo were publicly embarrassed over accommodations made with Beijing to be allowed to operate in China.

US technology companies have lobbied hard with the State and Commerce departments, and the US trade representative since the Green Dam order.

Solid Oak, a California software company, has sent "cease and desist" letters warning PC companies not to use the Green Dam software which, it says, uses code copied from its own filtering product.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

WTO Chairs Programme

The WTO has recently established a WTO Chairs Program to support WTO-related research and teaching activities in developing countries. While the deadline for the first round of call for proposals has expired on May 29th, similar opportunities might be offered in the future. Interested readers can find out more about the background of the program and application guidelines here. I'm honored to serve as a member of the Advisory Board of the programme.

Capitalists are not the only greedy ones

The WSJ recently reported that the DPRK asked the ROK for more payment to maintain an industrial complex that the South Koreans are operating within the territory of North Korea to help the North to develop their economy faster. If history is any guide, we should not be surprised at the behavior of the North Koreans. Incidentally, as products manufactured in Kaesong have been given preferential tariff under some of the FTAs signed by the ROK, this could be challenged as illegal under WTO Law.  Not that the North Koreans would care, but it would be interesting to watch how the North Koreans would react in such a case.

Pyongyang Raises Ire On Industrial Complex

By EVAN RAMSTAD and SUNGHA PARK

SEOUL -- North Korea told South Korea on Thursday it wants to be paid more to keep open a joint industrial complex on its side of the inter-Korean border. The North's most recent demands came amid rising global tensions due to Pyongyang's tests of missiles and a nuclear device earlier this year. The United Nations Security Council is expected as early as Friday to call for expanded sanctions and inspections.

Bloomberg News

North Korean women working at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

The money sought by North Korea would make the Kaesong Industrial Complex far more expensive to run and likely wipe out its economic attractiveness to the South Korean companies that have factories there.

But North Korea also said it intended to keep the complex going and would keep talking to the South, a departure from the invective it has heaped on South Korea's government for the past 15 months.

In Thursday's meeting at Kaesong, North Korea set out three demands: a one-time payment of $500 million to use its land at the complex for 50 years, housing for 15,000 workers, and a shift in the start date for annual land-use fees to 2010 from 2015.

Pyongyang also wants to raise the $75 monthly per-worker payment that South Korean manufacturers pay to $300. The two countries refer to that as a salary payment, but the money goes to the North Korean government and it is unknown how much is then paid to individual workers.

"The figures are the initial proposal," said Kim Young-tak, director-general of the complex and leader of the South Korean delegation at the meeting. "Through discussion, we can get closer." The Kaesong complex opened in 2004 and has been the key reason for the growth of trade between the two countries, which amounted to $1.82 billion last year. At present, 106 South Korean companies operate small factories in Kaesong that employ about 39,000 North Koreans.

North Korea last year began imposing restrictions on Kaesong, threatening its viability, in retaliation for South Korea's decision to link other economic assistance to the scaling back of the North's nuclear-weapons development.

South Korean officials didn't reject the North's demands and said they will meet again with North Korean officials June 19.

Mr. Kim said South Korea pushed the North for information about a South Korean worker who was arrested at the complex on March 30 and hasn't been seen since. The North's delegation said the man was "fine" but didn't elaborate. "We emphasized that the detention of our worker is a fundamental issue," Mr. Kim said.

The economic viability of the complex has never been clear. South Korea guarantees a portion of the losses that its manufacturers experience at the facility. Over the past two years, a productivity gap emerged as the growth of factories and workers in Kaesong outpaced the growth in the value of production at the facility.

Write to Evan Ramstad at evan.ramstad@wsj.com and SungHa Park at sungha.park@wsj.com

WSJ: EU and US to sue China in the WTO for export tariffs

EU, U.S. to File Suit Against China

By JOHN W. MILLER and MATTHEW DALTON

BRUSSELS -- The European Union and the U.S. will jointly file suit against China at the World Trade Organization this month in a bid to stop the Asian giant from hoarding key minerals and to set a precedent for other big producers of raw materials, people familiar with the issue said Thursday.

For more than two years, China has been using tariffs on exports to keep important industrial ingredients like zinc, tin and silicon for use at home. At the same time, Beijing has aggressively bought up large quantities of minerals from resource-rich African countries.

Western governments say the policy gives Chinese chemical firms, steelmakers and other producers an unfair advantage. EU and U.S. trade negotiators have prepared a list of 20 materials, mainly chemicals and metals, they believe are subject to illegal export restrictions, though it is unclear how many of these will be part of the WTO complaint, a European diplomat said.

One restriction that has provoked strong objections from the EU and the U.S. is an export duty on yellow phosphorous, the diplomat said. China imposes a 95% duty on the material, which is used to make numerous industrial chemicals, far above limits on such duties that China accepted when it joined the WTO, the diplomat said.

China also places quotas on the amount of certain raw materials that can be exported, another potential violation of WTO rules, the diplomat said.

China is not the only culprit. In an old-fashioned scramble for resources, Russia, Ukraine, Argentina, South Africa and India also have slapped tariffs or imposed other forms of export restrictions on exports including wood, chemicals and iron ore.

The global economic boom that prompted the scramble for raw materials is over, but the tariffs remain, an annoyance to companies in the resource-poor developed world.

Last year, the European Commission in Brussels drafted a dramatic warning that a shortage of some minerals "threatened the competitiveness of European industry." The report pointed to a costly shortage in 2000 of tantalum, an ingredient in mobile phones, as an example of the bloc's vulnerability, and suggested "reinforcing the dialogue" with China and Russia, a veiled threat to take the case to the WTO, according to EU officials.

Chinese diplomats were "surprised only at the timing" of the news of a WTO challenge, said a Chinese trade-ministry official based in Brussels. "The Europeans have been complaining about this for nearly two years, but we thought it was coming at the end of this year," he said. The official said China has imposed export tariffs of as much as 100% on some products, but these were justified by "exceptional situations linked to our internal factors."

The bureaucratic complexities of the WTO system mean it will be at least two years before a ruling is made on the Chinese tariffs. EU and U.S. trade officials, however, say that opening the case is a warning shot to other countries considering export tariffs.

Write to John W. Miller at john.miller@dowjones.com and Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@dowjones.com

欧美向WTO上诉要逼中国敞开卖资源

2009-06-15 10:51:08　来源: 环球时报(北京)　跟贴 16 条 手机看股票

欧盟和美国计划本月联合向世贸组织上诉，指控中国对出口原材料征税、"囤积资源"，"并给其他资源出口国造成先例"。

环球时报6月15日讯 继反倾销、反补贴之后，欧美又向中国挥起了新的贸易保护大棒。据美国《华尔街日报》12日报道，欧盟和美国计划本月联合向世贸组织上诉，指控中国对出口原材料征税、"囤积资源"，"并给其他资源出口国造成先例"。对此中国专家表示，包括美国在内的世界各国都在保护本国资源，中国这么做合情合理。

欧美不满中国减少原材料出口

《华尔街日报》报道说，西方政府指责中国对原材料出口征税，从而使中国的化工和钢铁等企业获 得了不公平的优势。欧盟和美国为此已经准备了一张清单，有可能于本月在世贸组织框架内对中国限制大约20种工业原材料出口提起诉讼。报道说，今年一季度， 中国用于生产铝和钢等金属的原矿对欧洲的发货量下降了90%以上。文章称，不仅中国，俄罗斯、乌克兰、阿根廷、南非和印度都曾对资源出口征收高关税。

路透社的报道称，欧盟和美国将于6月22日正式要求和北京方面进行磋商，如果对话努力不奏 效，将要求世贸组织专家小组听取投诉。欧洲委员会贸易发言人卢兹?格尔纳不愿证实欧盟是否、或将如何提出诉讼。但他承认，"我们对出口限制问题，以及中国 对原材料出口的限制关注多时……所以这是个重要的问题。"路透社的消息透露，这次涉及的原材料包括黄磷、锑、焦炭、硅、钨、锡和锌等。欧洲化工部门对于中 国去年决定对黄磷出口征收120%关税的决定相当不满。黄磷是用于多种化工产品的关键材料。一名欧洲化工官员对路透社抱怨说，"这项关税等于在扼杀他们， 因为欧洲人每买一吨黄磷要比中国的制造商多花大约2500美元。"

可能加剧中美、中欧贸易摩擦

美国媒体评论说，欧美此次联手行动"或许会给已经摩擦重 重的中美及中欧贸易关系火上浇油"。美国前助理贸易代表肖恩?斯派塞警告说，近期提交到世贸组织的案件数量可能会飙升，同时各国也会纷纷祭起形形色色的保 护主义大旗。华盛顿智囊机构全球发展中心贸易问题专家金伯利?艾略特则认为："在贸易问题上，没有哪个国家在贸易保护方面是清白的。几乎所有国家都在不同 程度上违背G20会议上就有关不采取贸易扭曲措施所达成的共识。"

中国并未对此消息做出明确回应，但商务部网站12日发表声明，谴责国际上正在出现形形色色的 贸易保护主义措施，并称，"在国际贸易保护主义加剧的背景下，中国作为世界第三大贸易实体和第二大出口国，成为国际贸易摩擦的主要对象"。记者查阅大不列 颠百科全书的"出口征税"词条发现，这一措施最早被英国使用，用于对羊毛和皮革的出口征税。词条说，"出口征税是有效地保护本国工业的措施。比如挪威和瑞 典对林业产品出口征税，以鼓励本国采矿、木材制造和造纸业。"

对出口征税不违反世贸规则

"美国和欧洲的做法没有道理，"中国世贸组织研究会常务理事周世俭告诉《环球时报》记者，欧 美希望中国把资源敞开卖，卖光为止，它们好买便宜的。然而，保护资源、保护环境是天然合理的。"美国不许出口本国野生西洋参，加拿大不许出口祖母绿宝石， 日本连可再生的木材都不能出口……各国都在保护自己的资源，中国怎么就不能呢？"周世俭认为，欧美的要求违背了WTO的基本规则。他说，WTO强调的是不 能限制进口，让市场放开，而没有具体规定出口应该如何，更没有要求让资源放开卖。"如果中国企业将资源产品放开卖，那势必会干扰国际有色金属市场的秩序， 同样会有人不满，前一阵国际上频发反倾销调查就可以看出这样的恶果。中国的做法其实有利于市场调节。"

还有学者对欧美政策的连贯性提出质疑。欧盟此前曾对中国出口焦炭发起过两次反倾销，分别在2000年和2008年开始对中国征收为期五年的反倾销税。有学者表示，如果欧盟现在反过来反对中国对焦炭征收出口关税，那其政策的连贯性就值得怀疑。

"中国现在的资源状况很紧张。"周世俭告诉记者，国土资源部曾有报告称，中国现代化所需要的 矿产资源里，2000年有45种，到2020年只能剩下6种。"中国是个发展中大国，矿产资源非常宝贵，因此国家对资源进行有效的管理非常必要。"周世俭 表示，国家的做法有利于保护环境，充分利用资源。但也有专家认为，中国更适宜通过资源税而非外贸政策来促进环保节能。 (本文来源：环球时报 )

Green Dam-Youth Escort

China Squeezes PC Makers
Beijing Is Set to Require Web Filter That Would Censor 'Harmful' Internet Sites

By LORETTA CHAO

BEIJING -- China plans to require that all personal computers sold in the country as of July 1 be shipped with software that blocks access to certain Web sites, a move that could give government censors unprecedented control over how Chinese users access the Internet.

The government, which has told global PC makers of the requirement but has yet to announce it to the public, says the effort is aimed at protecting young people from "harmful" content. The primary target is pornography, says the main developer of the software, a company that has ties to China's security ministry and military.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology didn't respond to requests for comment.

The Chinese government has a history of censoring a broad range of Web content. The new requirement could force PC manufacturers to choose between refusing a government order in a major market or opening themselves to charges of abetting censorship.

The software needn't be preinstalled on each new PC -- it may instead be shipped on a compact disc -- giving users some choice. But if installed, foreign industry officials who have examined the software say, it could transmit personal information, cause PCs to malfunction, and make them more vulnerable to hacking. It also makes it difficult for users to tell what exactly is being blocked, officials say.

A spokeswoman for Hewlett-Packard Co., which has the largest PC market share of any U.S. vendor in China, said the company is "working with the government authorities and evaluating the best way to approach this. Obviously we will focus on delivering the best customer experience while ensuring that we meet necessary regulatory requirements."

Susan Stevenson, spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, said the embassy was studying the new rule to assess its impact. "We would view any attempt to restrict the free flow of information with great concern and as incompatible with China's aspirations to build a modern, information-based economy and society," she said.

The software's Chinese name is "Green Dam-Youth Escort." The word "green" in Chinese is used to describe Web-surfing free from pornography and other illicit content. Green Dam would link PCs with a regularly updated database of banned sites and block access to those addresses, according to an official who tested the product for a government agency.

The May 19 Chinese government notice about the requirement says it is aimed at "constructing a green, healthy, and harmonious Internet environment, and preventing harmful information on the Internet from influencing and poisoning young people."

The software was developed by Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co., with input from Beijing Dazheng Human Language Technology Academy Co.

Bryan Zhang, founder of Jinhui, said Green Dam operates similarly to software designed outside China to let parents block access to Web content inappropriate for children. Some computers sold in China already come with parental-control software, but it isn't government-mandated.

Mr. Zhang said his company compiles and maintains the list of blocked sites, which he says is limited to pornography sites. He said the software would allow the blocking of other types of content, as well as the collection of private user data, but that Jinhui would have no reason to do so. He also said the software can be turned off or uninstalled.

His company plans to transmit new banned addresses to users' PCs through an Internet update system similar to that used by operating-system software and antivirus programs.

The software requirement was outlined in a notice that was issued by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on May 19 but that hasn't yet been publicized by state media. The notice, a copy of which was seen by The Wall Street Journal, says PC makers must ship PCs to be sold in China as of July 1 with the Green Dam software "preloaded" -- pre-installed or enclosed on a CD.

The notice says PC producers will be required to report to the government how many PCs they have shipped with the software. The notice doesn't mention any punitive action for noncompliance.

Sales of PCs in China neared 40 million units last year, second only to the U.S. Chinese company Lenovo Group Ltd. had the largest market share, with 26.7% of units shipped in the first three months of 2009, while H-P had 13.7% and Dell Inc. had 8.1%, according to research firm IDC.

Manufacturers have more than just sales in China to consider when the government asks them to do something: Major PC companies also have investments in factories and research facilities in China.

Dell declined to comment on the software. Lenovo said, "We review all legislation relating to our business," and didn't comment further.

Foreign industry officials say companies have been given little time to properly test Green Dam. "The lack of transparency, the shortness of time for implementation, and the incredible scope of the requirement that is not matched anywhere around the world present tremendous challenges to the industry," said an industry official who has discussed the plans with several major PC makers.

China already operates an extensive Internet filtering system, commonly called the Great Firewall, which blocks access to a range of content, from pornography to politically sensitive sites. Such sites have included those promoting Tibetan independence and the spiritual group Falun Gong; in specific circumstances the government has blocked access to foreign media sites.

But that system blocks content at the network level, and many users circumvent it. The new method could give the government a way to tighten its control, say foreign industry officials who have examined the software.

Having one universal application that opens a link into every computer could also make those computers more vulnerable to cyber attacks. Mr. Zhang said that the software is no riskier than other programs that are updated periodically through the Internet.

Moreover, Green Dam, which is designed to work with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system, could also conflict with other applications, causing glitches or even system crashes, industry officials said.

Wu Weiwei, an official from the government's China Software Testing Center who oversaw testing of the software, said extensive tests of the software have shown no problems.

U.S. Internet companies have for years grappled with demands from the Chinese government to censor content or share potentially private data with police.

Several of the biggest -- including Google Inc., Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft -- joined together last October to announce a set of guidelines for how they would comply with censorship requests from countries such as China, including a promise to be transparent about the requests they receive. But the effort, known as the Global Network Initiative, was criticized by some civil-liberties groups as being short on specifics and not doing enough to fight censorship laws. No computer hardware makers are members of the group.

A Yahoo spokeswoman said that the company would "continue to analyze international developments that may impact our industry." "We strongly support the free flow of information and the right to freedom of expression," she said.

Jinhui's Web site said it has a long-term "strategic cooperative partnership" with a research institute of the Ministry of Public Security on image-recognition technology, as well as long-term "technical cooperation" with the People's Liberation Army's Information Engineering University.

Mr. Zhang said Jinhui has only worked with the Ministry of Public Security on issues concerning pornography.

The Web site of Dazheng, the other software company involved in developing Green Dam, says the company works with the Armored Engineering Institute of the People's Liberation Army, and that it helped the PLA in 2005 produce a system to intercept "confidential" documents.

Wang Jingcheng, deputy general manager of Dazheng, said the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has "strict regulations and forbids all software companies from collecting any personal information." He added that the software will block content "according to the law."
—Kersten Zhang, Justin Scheck and Nick Wingfield contributed to this article.

Write to Loretta Chao at loretta.chao@wsj.com

“绿坝”软件揭秘


【核心提示：至今年3月底，国内已有约95家网站提供“绿坝”软件免费下载，下载次数共计约326.68万次；约2279所校园装备“绿坝”软件，总装机数达约51.83万台；约6957家网站完成“绿坝”软件安装工作，总装机数达约116.35万台。此外，联想、浪潮、七喜等厂商已签订软件预装协议，已装机数高达约5270万套。】

21世纪经济报道记者 郭建龙

缘于工信部力推，软件“绿坝—花季护航”(简称“绿坝”)正在走红。

5 月19日，工信部下发了《关于计算机预装绿色上网过滤软件的通知》[工信部软(2009)226号，下称226号文]。226号文规定：从今年7月1日开始，在我国境内生产销售的计算机出厂时应预装“绿坝”软件；进口计算机在国内销售前应预装“绿坝”软件；“绿坝”软件应预装在计算机硬盘或随机光盘内，且在恢复分区和恢复光盘中作为备份文件。226号文称，“绿坝”软件具备拦截色情内容、过滤不良网站、控制上网时间、查看上网记录等功能。为在计算机中安装 “绿坝”软件，工信部为此支付了人民币4170万元。

“绿坝”软件意在维护网络安全，2009年已有数次针对网络内容的整顿。

今年1月5日，国务院新闻办、工业和信息化部、公安部、文化部、工商总局、广电总局、新闻出版总署等七部委开始了整治互联网低俗之风的专项行动，在公布的第一批名单中，包括新浪、搜狐、腾讯、网易、谷歌、百度、天涯等网站。迄今为止，全国整治互联网低俗之风行动一共公布了十批网站名单，几乎涵盖了所有知名的网站。

226号文规定在PC上安装“绿坝”软件，通过终端维护网络安全，是工信部监管的新思路，是维护网络安全行动的深化。

揭秘“绿坝”软件

“绿坝”软件的提供商与服务商分别为郑州金惠计算机系统工程有限公司和北京大正语言知识处理科技有限公司。

6 月10日，记者拨通了大正公司的电话，该公司表示，目前的采访统一由工信部安排，大正公司只提供技术支持与服务。记者又拨通了金惠公司某高层的手机，该人士表示，目前两家公司在工信部的牵头下成立了专门的工作组，该工作组的官方网站是一个叫绿航网的网站。“该网站主要由大正方面负责维护，而金惠公司主要负责产品开发和技术维护工作。”

记者拨通了绿航网的电话，该网站人员亦表示新闻发布工作由工信部统一协调。

通过三家网站的资料和之前的公开报道，仍然能够还原整个事情的招标过程。在工信部招标之前，“绿坝”软件的原型实际上是两家公司的两款软件——河南金惠的绿坝软件和北京大正的花季护航软件。根据郑州金惠计算机系统工程有限公司网站上的公开资料，2006年2月24日，中国通信标准化协会在北京成立了“绿色上网标准特设项目组”，金惠公司总工程师汤怀礼应邀以专家身份参与会议，并作为起草组成员参与绿色上网标准的起草工作。

2008 年1月14日，原信产部下发《关于征集绿色上网过滤软件的紧急通知》，在全国范围内征召上网过滤软件，并于2008年1月21日发出绿色上网过滤软件产品一年使用权及相关服务采购竞争性谈判邀请函。记者在金惠公司网站上找到了金惠公司的谈判响应书，在金惠公司的报价表上，软件使用费总价1200万元，技术服务费共17项1500万元，其他费用(第三方监测费用)150万元，共计2850万元。

根据该响应书，金惠公司计划在 2008 年 12 月前投入 2600 万元将营销中心从郑州全部迁往北京，在上海建立面向美国、日本和韩国等国家的产品出口中心，并将部分技术研发力量配置到与公安部第一研究所合作的实验室中。

2008 年5月14日，工信部发出公告，郑州金惠计算机系统工程有限公司、北京大正语言知识处理科技有限公司的产品“金惠堵截黄色图像及不良信息专家系统”和“花季护航上网管理软件”中签。成交金额4170万元，其中郑州金惠计算机系统工程有限公司成交2180万元，北京大正语言知识处理科技有限公司成交1990 万元。

招标完成后，两家公司开始合作。2008年7月，在工业和信息化部的直接领导下，两家供应商项目负责人和主要项目人员共同组成绿色上网过滤软件项目工作组。今年4月1日，工信部发出《关于做好中小学校园网络绿色上网过滤软件安装使用工作的通知》。通知要求，“确保在今年5月底前，各中小学校联网的计算机终端均能安装运行好绿坝—花季护航绿色上网过滤软件。”


网络安全厂商受冲击

针对工信部7月1日安装该软件的要求。浪潮集团新发言人左佰臣的电话表示只要工信部有要求，就会执行。“对浪潮的影响不会很大，因为浪潮不做个人消费PC。 ”他认为预装软件都已经实现了工业化生产，并不是什么难事，不会提高PC制造成本。七喜内部人士告诉记者，七喜买了“绿坝”软件两年使用权限，并对七喜电脑完成了预装。

“整个网络安全行业可能遭受很大影响。”国内一家网络安全公司人士向记者表示。他告诉记者，此前的网络安全监控是在正常的网络流量设置监控。“类似于在用户使用网络的时候查看用户浏览的内容，不影响用户的浏览速度，这样做的缺点是数据获取不全。”

如果通过在用户计算机上安装软件，则一定能够把用户数据获取完全。“相当于先把数据拿过来嚼一遍再交给用户。”这样做会比整个网络安全行业目前所采取的方式更加有效。

但他认为：这会降低用户计算机的效率。比如，对于图片的监测，为了达到识别淫秽图片的目的，必须有足够大的特征库让软件进行自学习，即使这样的情况下，也只能达到70%~80%的识别率，这仍达不到商用的标准。这意味着软件在使用时会存在大量的误杀现象，影响正常的网络访问。

这同时意味着在每台计算机上开了一个后门，这个后门可以被好人使用，也可以被坏人打开，一旦被黑客利用，则后患无穷。上述人士分析：“如果该公司的网站能够被黑客攻破，那么其产品也可能会被黑客攻破，这意味着安装此类产品的计算机很可能变成肉鸡，甚至用户的电子邮件、信用卡操作、击键记录等都可能存在风险。 ”他说：公司此前也做过类似的产品，但后来放弃了。

至于中标的这两家公司，根据网站公开资料，郑州金惠计算机系统工程有限公司成立于1997年6月，位于郑州高新技术开发区樱花街5号，注册资金2000万元。企业法人赵慧琴曾任北京医疗器械研究所所长，中科院科海集团党委书记、常务副总裁。北京大正语言知识处理科技有限公司成立于2000年，由中科院声学研究所和北京麦纳新技术有限公司共同组建，注册资金1000万(其中知识产权出资700万)，法定代表人孟东豫。两公司都与中科院有关。

上述人士表示，他第一次听说这两个企业是在今年的4月，当时爆出消息，“绿坝”软件将在各中小学校进行推广。当时业内认为这款软件将只在学校的计算机上进行安装，不会推广到全社会。6月初再次爆出消息，该软件要安装在国内所有的计算机上。

推行建议

游认为一个好的软件关键看他用在什么领域。对于什么样的人该安装，游云庭建议三个领域：为了避免青少年接受不良信息，中小学校的电脑应该安装这款软件；对于政府机关而言，考虑到安全性的需要，应该安装绿坝软件屏蔽不良信息；对于国家控股的企事业单位，也可强制推行安装。

对于各私人企业和个人，游建议政府以鼓励为主，不强制安装。同时要给用户以选择权，在安装和激活的时候都必须得到用户的同意，并给与用户明确的卸载软件的选择。

他认为，根据我国的相关法律法规，对于黄色内容，下列八种行为会受到处罚，包括：制作、复制、出版、贩卖、传播、出租、出售和组织播放黄色内容。但如果一个年满18周岁的成年人在家里闭门浏览此类信息，并不违反法律法规，虽然法律不会鼓励不提倡，但也不禁止。

“从法律上说，这款软件如果利用得当，能够起到保护未成年人的目的。”上海中汇律师事务所律师游云庭向记者表示。

根据该软件官方网站绿航网的数据，至今年3月底，国内已有约95家网站提供“绿坝”软件免费下载，下载次数共计约326.68万次；约2279所校园装备“ 绿坝”软件，总装机数达约51.83万台；约6957家网站完成“绿坝”软件安装工作，总装机数达约116.35万台。此外，联想、浪潮、七喜等厂商已签订软件预装协议，已装机数高达约5270万套。

关于计算机预装绿色上网过滤软件的通知
工信部软〔2009〕226号

有关单位：
　　为构建绿色、健康、和谐的网络环境，避免互联网不良信息对青少年的影响和毒害，工业和信息化部、中央文明办、财政部按《政府采购法》有关要求，使用中 央财政资金买断“绿坝-花季护航”绿色上网过滤软件（以下简称“‘绿坝-花季护航’软件”）产品一年使用权及相关服务，供全社会免费使用。经综合测试和试 点应用，该软件产品可有效过滤互联网不良文字和图像内容，已具备计算机厂商预装条件。
　　为进一步巩固整治互联网低俗之风专项行动成果，坚持惩防结合，切实保护未成年人健康成长，推动互联网健康有序发展，根据全国整治互联网低俗之风专项行动的总体部署，现将计算机预装绿色上网过滤软件的具体要求通知如下。
　　一、在我国境内生产销售的计算机出厂时应预装“绿坝-花季护航”软件最新适用版本；进口计算机在国内销售前应预装“绿坝-花季护航”软件最新适用版本。
　　二、“绿坝-花季护航”软件应预装在计算机硬盘或随机光盘内，且在恢复分区和恢复光盘中作为备份文件。
　　三、“绿坝-花季护航”软件提供者应采取积极措施，支持计算机生产企业开展预装相关工作。
　　四、计算机生产及销售企业应于2009年6月底完成“绿坝-花季护航”软件预装测试等相关工作，2009年7月1日后出厂和销售的计算机应预装“绿坝-花季护航”软件。
　　五、计算机生产者和“绿坝-花季护航”软件提供者在2009年内应按月向工业和信息化部软件服务业司报送上月计算机销售数量、过滤软件预装数量及工作建议，自2010年起于每年2月底之前上报上一年度数据。
　　对于逾期未预装、不按时上报、虚假上报和拒不上报的，工业和信息化部将责令其限期补报或改正。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　二��九年五月十九日 

网上出现各种方法破解"绿坝-花季护航"

2009-06-12 21:37:06　来源: 法制晚报(北京)　跟贴 0 条 手机看新闻

工信部日前下文要求国内新售电脑必须预装一款名为 “绿坝-花季护航”的绿色上网软件。当媒体和公众还在为这款软件强制安装后能否卸载、是保护消费者还是监控用户而争论不休的时候，一些电脑爱好者坐不住了，他们开始摩拳擦掌地检验这个“绿坝”到底有多“牛”。

据报道，检验的结果令人大跌眼镜——短短几天内，网上就出现了各种破解方法。

虽然这些破解方法尚未得到权威部门的认证，其效果如何还很难确定，但这么多人都宣称找到了破解软件的不同方法，还是难免加深公众的疑虑。

其一，“绿坝”的安全性和稳定性到底如何？假如该软件反而被黑客操纵利用，后果会不会不堪设想？

其二，如果“绿坝”真的很容易“溃堤”，还值得相关部门强力推广吗？因此投入的财政资金，最后会不会打了水漂？ (本文来源：法制晚报 作者：乔志峰)

China's first CVD investigation

商务部公平贸易局负责人介绍我国首次发起“双反”调查的有关情况

2009-06-05 10:33  文章来源：商务部新闻办公室

文章类型：原创  内容分类：新闻

6月1日，商务部发布40号公告对原产美国和俄罗斯的 进口取向电工钢（硅钢）进行反倾销调查；发布41号公告对原产于美国进口取向电工钢进行反补贴调查。这是中国首次对进口产品进行反补贴调查，也是首次对来 自一个国家的进口产品同时进行反倾销和反补贴调查（“双反”调查）。日前，商务部公平贸易局负责人就此接受了记者的采访。 　　这位负责人指出，国内产业提出对进口产品进行反补贴调查，表明中国企业运用WTO规则维护自身权益的意识日渐成熟，除了运用反倾销措施外，开 始关注进口产品因受补贴而产生的不公平竞争。同时，开启反补贴调查也丰富了中国贸易救济调查实践。目前，对于WTO规则所允许的反倾销、反补贴和保障措 施，中国都有立法和实践。当然，中国政府对贸易救济调查一贯采取十分慎重的态度，反倾销等措施仅是对不公平贸易行为的纠正，并不会影响正常贸易的进行。 　　该负责人介绍，今年4月29日，商务部公平贸易局收到了武钢和宝钢集团代表国内电工钢产业递交的申请书，要求对自美国进口的取向电工钢“双反 ”调查以及对俄罗斯进口的取向电工钢进行反倾销调查。公平局对该申请书依照相关法规进行了认真的审核，经审查掌握的初步证据显示，两家企业在2006年、 2007年、2008年、2009年1月至2月取向电工钢产量之和占同期中国大陆同类产品总产量的100％，具备申请调查所要求的产业代表性。5月15日 商务部通知美国驻中国大使馆，根据WTO《补贴与反补贴措施协定》的规定向其发出进行政府磋商的邀请； 5月27日，商务部代表中国政府，美国贸易谈判代表办公室和美国商务部代表美国政府，进行了立案前磋商。商务部对于美方提出的有关补贴项目的关注给予了认 真考虑，最终确定对国内产业申请书中所指控的总计27个补贴项目中的22个进行调查，对5个补贴项目不予调查。 　　就此次调查的补贴项目，该负责人介绍到，补贴项目中的有些内容为公众所熟知，比如“购买美国货法案”项下的补贴，还比如被WTO判定违反规则 的“持续性倾销及补贴补偿法案”，即“伯德法案”项下的补贴；也涉及到了美国社会保险的有关项目，如养老保险担保项下的补贴；还有一些专门针对钢铁业的计 划、和特别环保豁免等。对一些地方性补贴项目，即对美国有关州的补贴项目也将进行调查。对于这些指控补贴项目，只有经过调查才能最终确定美国相关企业是否 获得利益，相关补贴项目是否具有WTO规则所规定的专向性。因此，商务部希望相关利害关系方，包括美国政府和美国企业，通过积极应诉并充分配合中国调查机 关的调查来维护自身的权益。商务部将在调查中充分尊重各利害关系方的权利，并确保调查过程的公开、公平和透明，以期得出客观、公正的结论。

MOFCOM getting tough on irregularities in labor export markets

商务部外交部公安部监察部交通运输部国资委工商总局关于开展清理整顿外派劳务市场秩序专项行动的通知 2009-06-09 16:51  文章来源：商务部合作司 文章类型：原创  内容分类：政策

打印

The Numbers Game

• May 14, 2009, 7:01 AM ET

IEA Casts Doubt on China’s Data

The question of whether China is presenting a too rosy growth picture came from an interesting corner: the International Energy Agency.

The IEA said Beijing’s official 6.1% on-year growth in first-quarter gross domestic product didn’t tally with a 3.5% drop in China’s oil demand in the quarter and also cited “inordinately weak” electricity demand.

“Admittedly, pinpointing China’s oil demand with accuracy is an exercise fraught with difficulties, given the lack of data and the underlying assumptions analysts must make regarding stocks and refinery output from independent producers,” the IEA said in its latest report on the global oil market (available here, subscription required).

“Still, one would have expected stronger, positive oil demand growth commensurate with the reported economic resilience, unless income elasticities had drastically changed.”

The IEA floated another possibility: Real GDP data aren’t accurate and shouldn’t be taken at face value.

It cited analysis by one research firm: London-based economic consultancy Lombard Street Research, often found on the lower end of estimates of China growth. On China’s first quarter, Lombard Street said growth was “probably slightly negative or nil at best.” That’s a minority view, as many economists think that while growth in the fourth quarter of last year was likely overstated by official GDP figures, that’s less true of the improving first quarter.

And extrapolating from a volume indicator like oil or electricity use to GDP — a value-added measure — is not a straightforward process. Many economists think the disconnect between China’s measures of energy consumption and GDP reflects a sharper slowdown in energy-intensive sectors than in the overall economy.

“This analysis … is of course one set of opinions among many,” the IEA said. “However, its conclusions regarding China’s real 1Q09 GDP growth seem more consistent with oil demand estimates.” The agency said it was sticking with its forecast of a 0.9% decline in 2009 in China’s apparent oil demand.

China’s statisticians have defended the accuracy of their work.

–David Winning

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国家统计局有关负责人就有关国际组织质疑中国经济数据可信度的情况接受记者采访

国家统计局综合司　2009-05-25 09:43:46

记者：我想你一定注意到了华尔街日报2009年5月15日根据有关国际组织报告编发的对中国经济数据质疑的文章。   　　有关负责人：我们注意到了这篇文章，并且我们还认真阅读了该文引用的有关国际组织的原文，遗憾的是原文的观点缺乏论据，而且有些观点还是引用民间咨询机构的结论。我们认为，作为一个国际组织，这一做法是缺乏严肃性的。   　　记者：那么，你怎么认为其观点缺乏论据呢？   　　有关负责人：原文认为，中国今年一季度GDP增速同石油需求数据不吻合，同电力需求也不吻合。问题是，这样对比是不科学的。拿经济总体增速与部分能源消耗增速的数据进行对比，犯了总体与部分对比的错误。实际上，今年一季度GDP同比增长6.1%，而同期全社会能源消费总量增长3.0%，与经济增长保持了同方向的变化，不存在不吻合的问题。   　　记者：你能否再具体分析一下呢？   　　有关负责人：我们也注意到了，经济保持了正增长，而全社会用电量却是负增长，出现这种现象，主要有两个原因：一是今年一季度产业结构变化较大，用电量相对较少的第三产业增长较快。一季度，第三产业增加值同比增长7.4%，超过第二产业2.1个百分点，占国内生产总值的比重由上年同期的42.7%提升到44.3%，已经超过第二产业中工业的比重。工业增加值占国内生产总值的比重由上年一季度的46.0%下降到今年一季度的44.1%。   　　二是主要高耗能行业生产及用电量增长放缓，而用电相对较少的高技术产业增长较快。一季度，用电量占规模以上工业企业63%左右的六大高耗能行业增加值同比增长2.3%，比上年同期回落了12.5个百分点。用电量则由2008年一季度的增长13.2%转为下降3.7%，下降幅度超出规模以上工业企业用电量降幅1.1个百分点。一季度，信息化学品制造同比增长15.5%，化学药品制造增长14.0%，生物、生化制品制造增长17.2%，通信交换设备制造增长34.7%，医疗设备及器械制造增长11.0%，均大大超过规模以上工业增加值5.1%的增长速度。   　　更说明问题的是，尽管经济是正增长，用（发）电量是负增长，但两者变化趋势是十分吻合的。去年以来，到今年2月份，规模以上工业增加值增速持续回落，相应的发电量也持续回落；1-3月份工业增加值增速出现回升，同期发电量增速也出现回升。   规模以上工业增加值与发电量累计同比增速     　　记者：国外也出现过经济增速与用电量变化不一致的情况吗？   　　有关负责人：确实国外也出现过。比如美国2001年电力消费下降3.6%，而国内生产总值增长0.8%；1991年电力消费增长5.0%，但国内生产总值下降0.2%。日本2003年电力消费下降1.3%，而国内生产总值增长1.8%，在1980、1982和2001年也曾经出现电力消费下降而国内生产总值增长的情况，而在1998和1999年则出现电力消费增长而国内生产总值下降的情况。韩国1980年电力消费增长5.4%，而国内生产总值下降1.5%。   　　记者：这一国际组织的报告还引用了一民间机构的观点，认为今年一季度GDP增长6.1%同贸易量同比下降大约20%不一致，据此质疑GDP数据，对此，你怎么看？   　　有关负责人：两个数据都没错，但拿两个没有完全对应关系的正确数据相比就不对了。GDP的增速是投资、消费和国外需求增速的综合结果，因此GDP增速与三大需求中的某一需求如国外需求增速方向不一致是正常的。如在某一需求出现下降，但其他需求增长更多的情况下，也会出现GDP的增长，更何况贸易量还不包括服务项，也不是真正意义上的外需。在分析问题的时候，千万不要犯盲人摸象的幼稚错误。今年一季度我国GDP增长6.1%，完全是靠内需所拉动。在国际金融危机继续扩散蔓延，世界经济急剧下降，国外需求大幅减弱的形势下，我国采取了扩大内需、促进经济平稳较快增长的一揽子计划，投资持续加快增长，消费稳定较快增长，内需对经济增长贡献加大。初步测算，今年一季度投资和消费共同拉动GDP增长6.3个百分点，国外需求负拉动0.2个百分点。   　　记者：你还有什么需要补充的吗？   　　有关负责人：国际社会各界历来都很相信有关国际组织发布的信息，这就要求国际组织对发布的信息一定要认真、严肃、负责，以更好地维护国际社会的健康有序发展。特别是在国际金融危机的今天，更应该严肃。

MOFCOM statement on China's rationale for negotiating FTAs

当前商务形势系列述评之二 加快自由贸易区建设 为外贸稳定增长服务 2009-05-13 08:50  文章来源：商务部新闻办公室 文章类型：原创  内容分类：新闻 当前商务形势系列述评之二 加快自由贸易区建设 为外贸稳定增长服务 商务部国际经贸关系司 　　自由贸易区建设已经成为我国新时期对外开放的新战略。胡锦涛总书记在党的十七大报告中提出“实施自由贸易区战略”，温家宝总理在2009年政 府工作报告中指出“要加快实施自由贸易区战略”。在当前世界金融危机影响继续扩散的情况下，自贸区为我国应对危机，统筹两个市场、两种资源提供了更大的回 旋余地，在保持我国进出口稳定增长方面发挥了明显的积极作用。 　　一、自贸区可营造进出口增长的良好环境 　　迄今为止，我国已对外签署了8个自贸协定，涉及16个国家和地区，包括与东盟、智利、巴基斯坦、新西兰、新加坡和秘鲁的自贸协定以及与香港、 澳门的更紧密经贸关系安排。上述协定涵盖我2008年对外贸易总额的五分之一。这些国家和地区作为自贸伙伴，有望成为我国新的重要外部市场，从而使我国进 出口环境得到改善。 　　首先，自贸区将通过改善市场准入推动我国进出口增长。在自贸协定中，参与各方应将90%以上的产品关税逐步削减到零，其减负、增益的效果是相 当可观的。作为进口方的企业，可以凭借我国向自贸伙伴提供的零关税或优惠关税待遇，获得新的进口渠道和更为价廉物美的进口产品；作为出口方的企业，可以凭 借自贸伙伴向我国提供的零关税或优惠关税待遇，使其出口产品打入新的市场或扩大原有的市场份额。这对遭受金融危机冲击，处在微利、无利甚至亏损状态的众多 我国企业来说，是难得的“利好”消息。 　　其次，自贸区将为我国进出口增长提供制度性保障。自贸协定是参与各方经贸关系达到高水平的重要标志。在自贸协定中，参与各方共同就彼此之间的 经贸发展做出了全方位、系统性的安排，包括为贸易提供优惠的市场准入条件，并建立合理的贸易救济和争端解决机制。这可使彼此间未来的贸易变得稳定、可预 见，可避免出现不正常的贸易波动。 　　还有，自贸区将提高我国在国际贸易谈判中的地位和话语权。目前，许多国家通过发展自贸区，组建区域经济集团，在国际贸易谈判中集体争取利益。建设自贸区，同样会促使我与有关国家强化利益纽带，从而在国际贸易谈判中相互协调，相互支持，能够更好地维护我国的利益。 　　二、自贸区可打造新的进出口增长点 　　自贸区可以降低出口成本，增强出口竞争力，提高出口利润，从而成为出口新的增长点。目前，我国播下的自贸区“种子”，已经开始“生根发芽”，而且“长势喜人”。这是我国出口开始受到金融危机影响的灰色背景下的一道亮光。 　　第一，我国对自贸伙伴出口总量明显扩大。2008年全年，我国对协定已经生效实施的5个自贸伙伴（不包括与港澳的更紧密经贸关系安排）的出口占同期出口总额的9%，约1288亿美元，同比增长20.9%，出口增速高于同期17.2%平均出口增速。 　　第二，我国对自贸伙伴双边出口额显著增长。以中国-智利自贸区为例，自2006年10月开始实施，2007年，我对智出口增幅为42%，2008年出口同比增幅为39.3%，实施两年来，我对智出口增速两倍于我同期总体出口增速。 　　第三，我国对自贸伙伴出口结构不断优化。中国-智利自贸协定实施头两年，我电器及电子产品出口额分别同比增长57%和53%；计算机与通信技 术出口额分别同比增长72%和34%；机械设备出口额分别同比增长50%和40%；小轿车在实现零突破的基础上，出口量分别为1950辆和12025辆， 长城、奇瑞和哈飞汽车等8个自主品牌的汽车进入智利市场。 　　第四，我国企业已从自贸区中逐步受益。2008年以来，中兴通讯公司出口到智利和越南的3300多万美元通讯产品，凭借120份自贸区原产地 证书，获得了进口国1150多万元人民币的关税减免。大连中远船务公司凭借《亚太贸易协定》原产地证书，促使全球最大、总货值超过7815万美元的举力浮 船坞顺利出口韩国，仅一单货物就少缴关税195.39万美元，合人民币1300多万元。 　　三、自贸区有助于减少贸易争端和规避技术壁垒 　　目前，越来越多的国家受金融危机影响，经济衰退，失业上升，导致国际贸易保护主义抬头。在减少和缓解贸易争端以及规避技术壁垒方面，自贸区也可发挥一定的作用。 　　（一）自贸伙伴都承认我国市场经济地位。东盟10国、南非、智利、新西兰、澳大利亚、巴基斯坦、秘鲁、冰岛、哥斯达黎加等自贸伙伴都承认我市场经济地位，为我出口创造了相对公平的贸易环境。 　　（二）自贸区可减少和化解贸易摩擦。自贸区各方遇有贸易争端，首先考虑取销自贸区优惠待遇，回归WTO最惠国待遇，对摩擦起到缓冲作用。不同 的自贸协定对贸易救济措施的使用有不同规定，即使是最宽松的协定，也有事先充分磋商寻求友好解决的规定。例如，中国-智利自贸协定实施后，智未再对我发起 反倾销和反补贴调查。 　　（三）自贸协定还有助于规避技术壁垒。在自贸协定中，我与有关国家在技术性贸易壁垒（TBT）、卫生和动植物卫生措施（SPS）方面开展标准互认，加强便利合作，严格限制了技术壁垒的使用。

打印

What do Mangosteen, Olympic Medals and Shaolin Monks have in common?

You can find out the answer after reading this interesting info on China's FTA developments.

The original link is here.

第四展馆 — 领域开放 实现跨越　　　　

• 货物贸易 机电和高新技术产品进出口 服务贸易 吸收外资 国家级经济技术开发区 对外投资和经济合作 台港澳地区
  自由贸易区建设 加入世贸组织 涉外法制建设

自由贸易区建设——方兴未艾

The Booming Development of Free Trade Areas (FTAs)

自贸区战略由来：从构想到战略

Origin of Free Trade Area Strategy Conception to Strategy

      自由贸易区定义：
      所谓自由贸易区，是指两个或两个以上国家或地区通过签署协定，在WTO最惠国待遇基础上，相互进一步开放市场，分阶段取消绝大部分货物的关税和非关税壁垒，改善服务和投资的市场准入条件，从而形成的实现贸易和投资自由化的特定区域。

Definition of Free Trade Area
A FTA refers to a specific geographical area formed by the customs territories of two or more ries/regions that have signed agreements to further open up markets, phase out most of the tariffs and non-tariff barriers for goods and improve market access for trade in services and investment amongst the members on the basis of the WTO MFN treatment so as to realize trade and investment liberalization.

      区域贸易安排数量（自贸区为主）

Number of Regional Trade Agreements (mainly FTAs)

      自由贸易协定(FTA)

Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

      2000年11月25日，朱�基总理出席在新加坡举行的第四次中国—东盟领导人会议时，提出探讨建立中国—东盟自贸区可能性的建议，得到东盟国家积极响应。这是中国首次提出自贸区建设构想。
      图为东盟各国地理位置和2000年与中国的双边经贸关系概况。

On November 25th, 2000, during the Fourth China-ASEAN Summit held in Singapore, Premier Zhu Rongji proposed to explore the possibility of establishing a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area which was responded positively by ASEAN ries. This is the first time that China proposed a FTA initiative.
The picture shows the geographic location of ASEAN ries and the general information on China-ASEAN bilateral trade in 2000.

      2007年10月15日，在中国共产党第十七次全国代表大会上，胡锦涛总书记在向大会所作报告中提出“实施自由贸易区战略”。
      图为中国共产党第十七次全国代表大会会场。

On October 15th, 2007, in the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Hu Jintao, the General Secretary, proposed the “Implementation of a FTA Strategy” in his report to the Congress.
The picture shows the venue of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

      自贸区国际法依据：
      1.《关贸总协定》第24条和乌拉圭回合《关于解释1994年 关贸总协定第24条的谅解》
      2.《服务贸易总协定》第5条
      3. 东京回合《差别的更优惠待遇、互惠以及发展中国家更充分参与》框架协议 (简称授权条款)
      4.《关贸总协定》第25条(简称免责条款)
      自贸区国内法依据：
      《中华人民共和国对外贸易法》第5条：
      “中华人民共和国根据平等互利的原则，促进和发展同其他国家和地区的贸易关系，缔结或者参加关税同盟协定、自由贸易区协定等区域经济贸易协定，参加区域经济组织。”

International Legal Basis for FTA
1. Article XXIV of the “General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994”(GATT) and “Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XXIV ”
2. Article V of the “General Agreement on Trade in Services” (GATS)
3. Tokyo Round, the “Agreement on Differential and More Favourable Treatment, Reciprocity and Fuller Participation of Developing ries” (also referred to as the Enabling Clause)
4. Article XXV of GATT (also referred to as the Waiver Clause)
Domestic Legal Basis for FTA
Article 5 of the “Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China”
The People's Republic of China shall promote and develop trade relations with other ries and regions，conclude or participate in customs union agreements, free trade agreements and other regional economic and trade agreements, and participate in regional economic organizations in the principle of equality and mutual benefit.

      2004年11月19日, 胡锦涛主席和新西兰总理海伦・克拉克在亚太经合组织领导人会议期间共同宣布启动自由贸易协定谈判。
      图为2001年海伦・克拉克访华时出席新西兰教育情况介绍会并作精彩演讲。

Chinese President Hu Jintao and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark jointly announced the launching of negotiations on a free trade agreement during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on November 19th, 2004.
The picture shows New Zealand Prime Ministrer Helen Clark made a keynote speech on education cooperation and exchange between China and New Zealand during her visit to China in 2001.

      2004年7月6日，中国与海合会双方共同宣布启动中国—海湾合作委员会自由贸易区谈判。
      图为海湾合作委员会6国（沙特阿拉伯、阿联酋、科威特、卡塔尔、巴林、阿曼）会议现场。

China and GCC jointly announced the launching of negotiations on China-Gulf Cooperation Council FTA on July 6th, 2004.
The picture shows the venue of a meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council which has 6 member ries, namely, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman.

      2006年9月7日，全国人大常委会委员长吴邦国在访问智利期间与智利总统米歇尔・巴切莱特共同宣布启动中智自贸区谈判。
      图为2007年智利总统米歇尔・巴切莱特出席在圣地亚哥举行的首届中国拉美企业家高峰会。

Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committe of the National People’s Congress of China, and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet jointly announced the launching of China-Chile FTA negotiations on trade in services during his visit to Chile on September 7th, 2006.
The picture shows Chilean President Michelle Bachelet attended the first China-Latin America Business Summit in Santiago in 2007.

      2005年4月5日，国务院总理温家宝访问巴基斯坦期间，双方启动自贸区谈判。
      图为2005年6月15日，中国—巴基斯坦塔什库尔干边民互市开市。

China and Pakistan launched negotiations on free trade agreement during Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Pakistan on April 5th, 2005.
The picture shows the opening of the Taxkorgan exchange marketplace on the frontiers between China and Pakistan on June 15th, 2005.

      2006年8月，中新双方领导人宣布在中国—东盟自由贸易区基础上启动中国—新加坡双边自由贸易区谈判。
      图为新加坡概况介绍。

In August 2006, Chinese and Singaporean leaders jointly announced that, the two sides, built on the basis of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, launched the China-Singapore bilateral FTA negotiations.
The picture shows the basic information of Singapore.

      2004年11月29日，温家宝总理出席第八次中国—东盟领导人会议，双方签署了《中国—东盟全面经济合作框架协议货物贸易协议》。此后，双方又签署了《服务贸易协议》等。
      图为老挝首都万象的第八次中国—东盟领导人会议现场。

The “Agreement on Trade in Goods of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Co-operation between China and ASEAN” was signed when Premier Wen Jiabao attended the Eighth China-ASEAN Summit on November 29th, 2004. After that, the two sides signed the “ Agreement on Trade in Services”.
The picture shows the venue of the 8th China-ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, capital of Lao PDR.

      2006年11月，商务部部长薄熙来与巴基斯坦商务部部长胡马云・阿赫塔尔・汗签署《中国—巴基斯坦自由贸易协定》。
      图为2005年12月9日，中国与巴基斯坦签署自由贸易协定早期收获协议。

Minister of Ministry of Commerce Bo Xilai and his Pakistani erpart Humayun Akhtar Khan signed China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement in November 2006.
The picture shows the signing ceremony of the “Early Harvest Program of the Free Trade Agreement between China and Pakistan” on December 9th , 2005.

      2005年11月18日，在韩国釜山APEC领导人非正式会议期间，中智双方签署《中国—智利自由贸易协定》。
      图为亚太经合组织（APEC）第17届部长级会议在韩国釜山开幕。

China and Chile signed the China - Chile Free Trade Agreement during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Busan On November 18th, 2005.
The picture shows the opening ceremony of the 17th Ministerial Meeting of APEC in Busan, Republic of Korea.

      2008年4月7日，在国务院总理温家宝和新西兰总理克拉克的见证下，商务部部长陈德铭与新西兰贸易部长菲尔・戈夫签署《中国—新西兰自由贸易协定》，这是我国和经合组织国家签署的第一个自贸协定。
      图为2008年4月8日，陈德铭部长会见新西兰贸易部长菲尔・戈夫。

Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff signed the “Free Trade Agreement between China and New Zealand” in the presence of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark on April 7th, 2008.
The picture shows that Minister Chen Deming met with his New Zealand erpart Phil Goff on April 8th, 2008.

      2006年10月开始实施以货物贸易自由化为主的自贸协定
      10年内分阶段取消关税，涵盖中国税目总数97.2%的产品，智利税目总数98.1%的产品
      其中，立即取消关税的产品包括化工品、纺织品和服装、农产品、机电产品、车辆及零件、水产品、金属制品和矿产品等。

Began to implement the free trade agreement October 2006, mainly on the liberalization of trade in goods
Phase out tariffs covering 97.2% and 98.1% of China and Chile’s total tarifflines respectively
Of which, the tariffs of chemicals, textiles and clothing, agricultural products, machinery and electrical products, vehicles and spare parts, aquatic products, fabricated metal products and minerals products, etc. were subject to immediate elimination.

      随着中国—东盟自贸区货物贸易协议的实施，中国对东盟国家的出口迅速增加。
      图为中国—东盟博览会天津展台。

With the implementation of the Trade in Goods Agreement of China-ASEAN FTA, China’s exports to ASEAN ries witnessed tremendous growth.
The picture illustrates the Tianjin exhibition platform in China-ASEAN Expo.

      2008年北京奥运会制作金牌和铜牌所用的金和铜原料全部从智利进口，享受了中国-智利自贸区零关税待遇。
      图为北京奥运会金银铜牌。

All the gold and bronze raw materials used for the 2008 Beijing Olympics medals were imported Chile with zero tariff treatment under China-Chile Free Trade Agreement.
The picture shows the 2008 Beijing Olympic medals.

      随着中国与东盟贸易往来的不断加大，榴莲、山竹等东盟10国的热带水果开始走俏国内市场。
      图为广西南宁一水果店的老板在向顾客介绍东盟产热带水果。

With the growing trade between China and ASEAN ries, many tropical fruits these ries including durian and mangosteen become popular in the Chinese market.
The picture shows a fruit store owner introducing the tropic fruits originating ASEAN to customers in Nanning, Guangxi.

      根据中国－新西兰自贸协定，新西兰将为中国武术教练、中医等职业提供工作许可。
      上图为一些新西兰武术运动员在少林寺山门前合影留念。
      下图为新西兰新开设的一家中医诊所。

According to the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, New Zealand provides work permits to Chinese Wushu Martial Arts coaches and Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）practitioners.
The picture above shows a group of New Zealand Wushu athletes posing in front of the Shaolin Temple.
The picture below shows a newly-opened Chinese holistic healthcare clinic in New Zealand.

New LLM program in Lisbon

My good friend Miguel Poiares Maduro has launched an innovative new LLM program in Lisbon. The faculty is drawn from leading authorities on different areas of law from around the world. While it is new, I strongly believe that it will soon become one of the leading programs in the world. Interested applicants can find more info on the program here. There are some scholarships available on a selective basis.

New Wave of Transititional Product-specific Safeguard Measures Against China

美轮胎特保案或引发捕杀中国出口潮

2009年05月04日 15:32法人【大 中 小】 【打印】 已有评论1条

奥巴马或将改变美国政府多年来对中国出口产品“特保调查”的一贯态度和做法，若轮胎特保案一旦采取措施，极有可能引发美国乃至全球对中国进口产品的设限高潮

文 本刊记者 宋华安

日前，《法人》记者从接近中国商务部的人士获悉，美国钢铁工人联合会(USW)在4月20日向美国国际贸易委员会(ITC)提出申请，要求对从中国进口的轮胎进行特殊保障措施调查(以下简称“特保调查”)，以达到限制进口中国轮胎的目的。这项标的价值达17亿美元的特保调查案，目前已引起中国商务部的高度关注。

业界人士表示，USW提起的该项“特保调查”是美国奥巴马政府针对中国产品实施特保条款调查的第一案。此调查美国产业一旦获胜，或将使美国对华实施 特保措施的势头高涨，更多的特保调查将接踵而来，同时也会引起其他WTO成员仿效，遏制和限制中国产品出口。在中国出口下滑趋势较为严峻的2009年，如 何积极应对美国的特保调查，以保障出口稳定回升，是政府和企业面临的重大课题。为此，《法人》记者采访了原中国商务部条法司和公平贸易局官员、现北京嘉润 道和律师事务所合伙人张涛律师。

本案的特殊意义

“目前中国是美国最大的轮胎出口国，2008年中国总计向美国出口4600万条轮胎。”张涛给《法人》记者提供了一组本案美国申请人——美国钢铁工 人联合会(USW)在申请书中所使用的数据。该数据显示，从2004～2008年，美国从中国进口的轮胎数量增长率为215%，美国轮胎产量下降25%。 美国汽车业的严重衰退，也给美国钢铁业以致命的打击。

USW认为中国出口到美国的轮胎已经严重影响了美国轮胎产业，其中包括美国工人的就业问题，以及可能导致越来越多的美国轮胎厂关闭。美国USW总裁Leo.W. Gerard 还公开宣称将利用美国贸易弥补法律“421条款”，即所谓的特保调查，来应对中国轮胎业的重压。

张涛表示，美国对中国的特保调查其实不是一个新鲜事物，从2002年起美国产业在布什总统任期内就对中国提起了6起特保调查。但这6起特保调查案均以失败告终，中国企业没有受到任何损害和损失。

本案的特殊意义在于:它可以被当成是检验奥巴马政府对“特保调查”的态度和做法乃至对中美贸易关系的“试金石”。

据业界人士表示，自2008年11月奥巴马上台执政美国以来，美国政府对特保的态度或许会有所改变。奥巴马的上台或应该引起中国企业的警觉。张涛认 为，长期以来，中国企业普遍对海外反倾销措施中的反倾销调查、反补贴比较熟悉和重视，但对“特保调查”一直不太关注。因为至今还没有一起因特保调查而遭受 损失的企业或行业。

特保调查

激增保障措施作为WTO允许成员方所采取的三大贸易救济措施之一(另外两个是反倾销和反补贴)，是指当某一具体的产业由于受到突然大量增加的进口产 品的冲击，给进口国造成严重损害或严重损害威胁时，进口国政府可以实行临时性进口限制，主要通过增加关税、实施非关税措施(如数量限制)或两者并用来限制 进口，以达到国内产业免受国外产品冲击的目的。而特保与保障措施的一个重要区别就在于：保障措施针对的是正在进口的产品而实施的，其不考虑产品来源。也就 是说，只要是进口产品激增，不管是来自哪个成员方，进口方都可依据保障措施的有关条款对其启动保障措施的程序。这是WTO非歧视性原则在贸易救济中的具体 体现。而“特保条款”则是针对某特定成员国的进口来源。

据张涛介绍，1999年11月15日，中美签署了关于中国加入WTO的双边协议。该协议第13条规定，在中国加入WTO后的12年内，美国对中国产 品可以使用特殊保障措施机制。此后，这一条款成为中国加入WTO议定书第16条“特定产品过渡性保障机制”(即“特保条款”，据此采取的措施为“特保措施 ”)的内容。

该条款规定，WTO成员经事先确定的法律程序认定原产于中国的某项产品进口激增，并对其国内相关产业造成或威胁造成市场扰乱，则该成员可以对自中国 进口的此类产品采取限制措施。此外，《中国加入工作组报告》第245至260段对此特保条款又作了细化。这两部分规定构成了针对中国进口产品的特保条款机 制。一些WTO成员据此先后进行了相应的国内立法和实践。中国承诺允许其他WTO成员在入世(2001年12月入世)后12年内，可使用该条款来限制中国 进口产品。

同时，WTO议定书第16条还规定，如果一个WTO成员对某种中国进口产品采取了特保措施，并造成或威胁造成进入其市场的重大的贸易转移，该成员方可以针对该种中国进口产品采取特保措施。(HG: This is incorrect.)

美国特保“421条款”

张涛介绍，美国国会在2000年经由立法程序在《美国1974年贸易法》第四部分加入了第二章“进行贸易救济，避免美国市场遭受市场扰乱和贸易转移 ”的内容，其中包含第421节“针对市场扰乱采取的措施”、第422节“应对贸易转移的措施”和第423节“规则与条款的终止日期”。

依据“421条款”，在中国加入WTO后的12年内，若中国出口至美国的产品数量增加或者所依条件，对同类产品或直接竞争产品的美国国内产业造成或 威胁造成市场扰乱，美国总统可以在防止或补救市场扰乱必需的限度和时间内，针对中国产品加征关税或实施其他进口限制手段。由此，美国使用特保条款的国内立 法正式产生，这是美国为应对中国加入WTO而专门设计的防卫武器。

根据“421条款”，美国国际贸易委员会(ITC)可以自动或应申请启动特保措施调查，一般情况下ITC在60天内就做出决定。如果美国国际贸易委 员会裁决损害成立，将在20天内向总统及贸易代表办公室提交一份报告，贸易代表办公室在55天内向总统提出是否采取任何措施的建议。在此期间，贸易代表办 公室应举行听证会等，让进口商等利害关系方陈述意见，并可以与中国政府就此进行磋商。在收到贸易代表办公室提交的建议的15天之内，总统将公告采取具体措 施，但如果总统认为采取措施不符合国家经济利益或弊大于利，也可以不采取任何措施。

布什任期的6起特保案

据张涛介绍，从美国贸易法“421条款”生效至今，美国针对中国产品发起的特保措施案件(即“421调查”)已有6起。这6起特保调查案都发生在布什任职总统期间。

2002年8月19日，美国国际贸易委员会(ITC)应美国一家小规模的生产企业的申请，对原产于中国的椅座轴承致动器进行特保措施调查，也是首起 特保调查。而该产品中国在2001年对美国出口额仅为17万美元。02年10月18日，美国ITC裁定中国对美出口的椅座升降装置对美国相关产业构成了市 场扰乱，并建议实施配额限制。为此，中方与美方进行了磋商，到2003年1月17日，美国总统布什决定不采取救济措施，中美首起特保调查案以中国企业未受 损害而告终。

2002年11月28日，美国三家钢丝衣架生产企业向ITC提起申诉，要求对原产于中国的钢丝衣架立案进行特保措施调查。经过两个月时间的调 查，03年1月27日，ITC裁定中国对美国出口的钢丝衣架对美国相关产业构成了市场扰乱，并提出加征关税的救济建议。4月25日，美国总统布什否决了采 取救济措施的建议。

2003年特保调查案也发生了两起。6月5日，美国“保护美国维修市场用刹车盘、刹车鼓生产商联合会”向ITC提起申诉，要求对原产于中国的刹车 盘、刹车鼓立案进行特保措施调查。8月5日，ITC裁定中国对美出口的刹车盘和刹车鼓未对美国相关产业构成市场扰乱，并结束调查。30天后，美国有四家公 司向ITC提起申诉，要求对原产于中国的球墨铸铁管件立案进行特保措施调查。10月16日，ITC裁定中国对美国球墨铸铁管件出口不存在“紧急情势 ”；12月4日，ITC裁定中国对美出口的球墨铸铁管件对美国相关产业构成市场扰乱，为此，中方与美方进行了磋商。2004年3月3日，美国总统布什做出 了不采取救济措施的最终决定。

2004年至2005年各有一起特保调查案，其中04年的弹簧案张涛亲自参与过。04年1月6日，美国弹簧生产商协会向ITC提起申诉，要求对原产 于中国的床用内置弹簧组立案进行特保措施调查。经过短短2个多月的取证和应对调查，3月8日，ITC裁定中国对美出口的床用内置弹簧组未对美国相关产业构 成市场扰乱。2005年，根据421条款，美国国际贸易委员会对中国发起一起环状焊接管特保措施调查案，被ITC裁定构成市场扰乱。但在12月30日，美 国总统布什也最终否决了采取特保措施。

需警惕危害

尽管过去发生的6起特保调查没有对中国企业产生负面影响和实质损害，但中国出口企业切不可对此轻视。张涛分析认为，美国对中国发起的特保调查案具有三大明显的危害特征：

一是申诉和调查的时效速度非常快，从特保申请到特保措施的出台不超过半年。 “一旦ITC认定市场扰乱成立，美国总统可以很快就采取限制进口措施，在此情况下，中国企业很容易被打个措手不及。”张涛表示。而反倾销调查和反补贴调查 从立案到采取反倾销措施，一般都在12个月-18个月之间。

二是效果明显。如果美国总统决定采取特保措施，马上就会增加关税、实施非关税措施(如数量限制)或两者并用来限制进口，中国相关产业的出口量会立即受限或受到征税处罚。

第三个危害也是影响最大的危害，即容易引发“多米诺骨牌效应”。以美国“421条款”为代表的特保条款被称作是国际商务领域的“非典型肺炎”，它不 同于传统的贸易救济措施。如果某个WTO成员因特保调查成立而实施特保措施，其他WTO成员就可以“贸易转移”为由，对我国同一种出口产品实施连锁特保措 施，引发多米诺骨牌效应，进而使我国整体出口环境恶化。

美国产业界提起的6起特保调查案尽管都被否决，使其对中国产品实施“特保措施”的目的落空，但421条款的威胁却依然存在。奥巴马在去年美国的总统 竞选中曾批评布什政府在中国对美出口产品上屡次否决采取特保措施，并称特保调查应该被使用。今年2月份，美国在7870亿美元的经济振兴方案中曾有“购买 美国货”条款，虽因全球强烈舆论而将此条款作了软化处理，但不排除奥巴马政府在此后的具体政策执行过程中启用相关的贸易保护措施并对中国出口产生实质上的 损害影响。

张涛表示，中国承诺允许其他WTO成员在入世后12年内，其他WTO成员可以使用特保措施机制条款来限制中国进口产品。那么在12年大限即将结束的 2013年12月10日之前，特别是在目前全球经济不景气的情况下，美国(和其他国家)随时都可能利用421条款对我国出口产品实施进口限制措施，以保护 其本国企业利益。

不管当前这起轮胎特保调查案的结果如何，张涛认为中国企业和政府在这个特别敏感时期需要时刻警惕高度关注并积极应对，以避免由当前的轮胎特保调查案 引发连锁损害效应。张涛表示，目前美国产业和中国商务部都在紧密地观望轮胎特保案的走向，如果奥巴马政府有意通过此案改变美国政府在特保调查中的一贯做 法，中国应该怎么办？

根据自己参与应诉弹簧特保案的经验，张涛建议从以下5个方面来应对解决：一是涉案的中国相关企业答问卷，企业要积极配合起诉方的调查。二是商协会要 发挥起行业协会组织的作用，组织产业积极应诉，并同美国申请产业进行会谈协商，争取撤案。三是当行业发生特保调查案时，(行业协会、企业)要及时把相关信 息反馈给政府，由中国政府出面沟通，给美国政府足够的政治压力，同时营造一种强势的舆论。四是律师和经济法学专家共同对美国产业状况、中国进口及受损因果 关系等进行分析。比如深入判断美国是否遭受损害以及遭受损害的因果关系分析，研究美国轮胎产业是否因我国的出口而受损，若受损是否因进口我国轮胎激增造成 的，同时也要判断中国进口产品是否激增了，什么叫激增，如何界定激增等等，给政府提供积极翔实的数据支持。五是中国企业要通过多种方式获得美国进口商、下 游产业和最终用户(消费者)的支持，共同游说美国政府做出有利中国的结果。

张涛

北京嘉润道和律师事务所合伙人、律师，实战派反倾销法律专家，毕业于对外经济贸易大学，法律硕士。曾负责并参与了中国反倾销条例和规章的起草制定以 及中国反倾销调查制度的建设，受聘于中国商务部作为第三方参加WTO有关反倾销法律的争端解决，并代理中国商务部应对美国、欧盟和土耳其对华的纺织品特保 调查，具有丰富的反倾销特保调查案经验和美国337调查案经验。

ECIPE Internship Programme

From my friends at the ECIPE.

ECIPE has an internship programme (internships are salaried) and accepts every semester two candidates. Candidates should have a Master's degree in economics (international economics/trade economics), international political economy, European integration, or an equivalent discipline relevant for ECIPE's research profile. We are particularly looking for candidates with an excellent academic record and with a strong interest for a future career in academia, journalism, or policy making. Interns will participate in all of ECIPE's work and will undergo a training programme that is designed after their future career interests. Interns assist ECIPE scholars with research assistance and participate in research programmes. Interns should have excellent writing skills and should be fluent in English. The application should include:

• Letter of interest explaining why you would like to do an internship with ECIPE (1 page);
• CV with two academic references;
• MA/MSc dissertation in English (if your MA/MSc dissertation will be finished soon after the deadline, send your BA/BSc dissertation and a research outline of the MA/MSc dissertation).

Applications for the fall internships (starting September/October) should be sent to ECIPE (info@ecipe.org) no later than June 15.