英語新聞丨

The US government's latest move to slap heavy tariffs on Chinese imports, including electric vehicles and solar cells, shows protectionism and industrial policy is the new consensus approach to economic challenges, which is an "unfortunate shift" in US policy, a senior economist said on Tuesday.

5月14日，一位高級經濟學家表示，美國政府對包括電動汽車和太陽能電池在內的中國進口產品征收重關稅的最新舉措，表明保護主義和產業政策是應對經濟挑戰的新共識方式，這是美國政策中的一個“不幸轉變”。

The United States is increasing tariffs on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports, targeting electric vehicles (EVs), advanced batteries, steel and critical minerals, the White House said on Tuesday.

5月14日，白宮表示，美國正在對價值180億美元的中國進口商品加征關稅，目標是電動汽車、先進電池、鋼鐵和關鍵礦產。

The fresh levies come on top of the already massive tariffs imposed on more than $300 billion worth of Chinese goods, which were introduced during the Trump administration, according to the result of a four-year review of the China Section 301 tariffs, released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday.

根據美國貿易代表辦公室(USTR)5月14日公布的對華301條款關稅四年期審查結果，特朗普執政期間已對價值3000多億美元的中國商品征收了巨額關稅，此次新征稅是在此基礎上增加的。

The review was undertaken under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which Trump invoked to first launch the China tariffs in 2018.

這項審查是根據1974年《貿易法》第301條進行的，特朗普援引該條款于2018年首次啟動中國關稅。

The centerpiece of the new tariffs is a quadrupling of levies on Chinese EVs to 100 percent starting this year, an attempt analysts said would likely result in thwarting the Biden administration's own efforts to fight climate change by speeding up EV adoption.

新關稅的核心是從今年開始，對中國電動汽車的征稅翻了兩番，達到100%，分析師表示，這一嘗試可能會阻礙拜登政府通過加速采用電動汽車來應對氣候變化的努力。

Erica York, a senior economist and research director with the Tax Foundation's Center for Federal Tax Policy, said that at present, consumers are not likely to see an immediate increase in costs because Chinese EVs are already locked out of the US market.

稅收基金會聯邦稅收政策中心高級經濟學家兼研究主任埃里卡·約克（Erica York）表示，目前，消費者不太可能看到成本的立即增加，因為中國電動汽車已經被美國市場拒之門外。

"Longer term though, it means American consumers will lack choices, including competitively priced and innovative Chinese EVs and face higher prices for green tech and green energy at home," York told China Daily on Tuesday.

5月14日，約克（York）周二告訴《中國日報》：“但從長遠來看，這意味著美國消費者將缺乏選擇，包括價格合適且有所創新的中國電動汽車，并在國內面臨著更高價格的綠色技術和綠色能源?！?/p>

York's organization has estimated that the current tariffs and retaliation will reduce long-run US output by about 0.25 percent, costing thousands of jobs and reducing incomes.

稅收基金會聯邦稅收政策中心估計，目前的關稅和報復措施將使美國的長期產出減少約0.25%，導致數千人失業，收入減少。

Maintaining the current tariffs, which have been costly to American consumers and the manufacturing sector, and doubling or quadrupling down on the approach, will further increase costs, insulate US businesses from competitive pressures that lead to long-run improvements, and put US manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage abroad, according to York.

約克（York）表示，維持目前的關稅對美國消費者和制造業來說代價高昂，如果再加倍或翻兩番，將進一步增加成本，使美國企業無法承受競爭壓力，從而導致長期改善，并使美國制造商在國外處于競爭劣勢。

"Protectionism and industrial policy are not a recipe for success; instead, policymakers should pursue reforms that encourage investment, innovation and competition," she added.

她補充說：“保護主義和產業政策不是成功的秘訣；相反，政策制定者應該推行鼓勵投資、創新和競爭的改革?！?/p>

The tariffs that take effect this year also cover solar cells, syringes, needles, steel and aluminum products, according to a statement from the USTR.

根據美國貿易代表辦公室的一份聲明，今年生效的關稅還包括太陽能電池、注射器、針頭、鋼鐵和鋁產品。

The tariff rate on semiconductors will surge from 25 percent to 50 percent by next year, while levies on Chinese EV batteries and battery parts will more than triple to 25 percent by 2026.

到明年，半導體關稅將從25%飆升至50%，而到2026年，中國電動汽車電池和電池部件的關稅將增加兩倍以上，達到25%。

Gary Hufbauer, a senior fellow and trade expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, noted that as some tariffs are to be phased in over a couple of years, they won't have an "immediate" effect.

華盛頓彼得森國際經濟研究所（Peterson Institute for International Economics）高級研究員兼貿易專家加里·胡夫鮑爾（Gary Hufbauer）指出，由于一些關稅將在幾年內逐步實施，它們不會產生“立竿見影”的效果。

"But for sure they will delay the rate of EV adoption and hurt the clean-air agenda," Hufbauer said of Biden's climate agenda, which includes ramping up the adoption of EVs to cut US greenhouse gas emissions.

“但肯定的是，他們將推遲電動汽車的采用率，并損害清潔空氣議程，”胡夫鮑爾（Hufbauer）談到拜登的氣候議程時說，其中包括增加電動汽車的采用，以減少美國的溫室氣體排放。

The expert said that the tariffs are a "definite negative" for US-China relations.

這位專家表示，關稅對美中關系“肯定是負面的”。

China's Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday that the US tariff hike goes against the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and the promises of President Joe Biden, and will "seriously affect the atmosphere of bilateral cooperation".

5月14日，中國商務部表示，美國提高關稅違背了兩國領導人達成的共識和喬·拜登總統的承諾，并將“嚴重影響雙邊合作的氛圍”。

"I expect China to retaliate in a measured way against iconic US exports," Hufbauer said. "I'm sure Beijing is studying the menu."

“我預計中國會對標志性的美國出口產品進行有分寸的報復，”胡夫鮑爾（Hufbauer）說，“我肯定北京正在研究計劃?！?/p>

The Commerce Ministry said China will take "resolute" measures to safeguard its own rights and interests, according to a statement.

根據一份聲明，商務部表示，中國將采取“堅決”措施維護自身權益。

US media reports on Tuesday pointed to the fact that the tariffs in an election year come in the middle of a heated campaign between Biden and his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, where they both resort to China-bashing tactics.

美國媒體5月14日的報道指出，拜登和他的共和黨前任唐納德-特朗普之間的競選活動正處于白熱化階段，雙方都采取了抨擊中國的策略，而在大選年加征關稅正是在這種情況下發生的。

A new set of polls show that Trump leads Biden in five of six crucial election battleground states, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

一組新的民調顯示，特朗普在六個關鍵的選舉戰場州中的五個州領先拜登，即密歇根州、亞利桑那州、內華達州、喬治亞州和賓夕法尼亞州。

"The timing is specifically aimed at voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan — auto and steel states," Hufbauer said.

胡夫鮑爾（Hufbauer）表示：“這個時機是專門針對賓夕法尼亞州、俄亥俄州和密歇根州——汽車和鋼鐵州——的選民的?！?/p>

"Since Trump promises equal or higher tariffs, I doubt the announcement will shift many votes toward Biden, but it may avoid further losses to voters who welcome protection," he added.

他補充說：“由于特朗普承諾相同或更高的關稅，我猜測這一宣布會將許多選票轉向拜登，但它可能會避免歡迎保護的選民遭受進一步損失?！?/p>

Douglas H. Paal, distinguished fellow of the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Tuesday's announcement of fresh tariffs constituted one form of the US response to the "serious trade issues" with China.

卡內基國際和平基金會(Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)亞洲項目杰出研究員道格拉斯·帕爾（Douglas H. Paal）表示，5月14日宣布的新關稅措施是美國應對與中國之間“嚴重貿易問題”的一種形式。

"When leaders are weak in election years, they resort to popular measures that may be less effective in reality than in rhetoric. That is where we are," Paal told China Daily.

帕爾（Paal）告訴《中國日報》：“當領導人在選舉年表現不佳時，他們會采取一些受歡迎的措施，這些措施在現實中可能不如在口頭上有效。這就是我們的現狀?！?/p>

Trade bodies 'disappointed'

貿易機構“失望”

Hours after the release of the results of the review of the China Section 301 tariffs, US trade organizations said they were highly disappointed by the outcome.

在對華301條款關稅審查結果公布數小時后，美國貿易組織表示，他們對這一結果非常失望。

"The decision to extend Section 301 tariffs on a wide range of apparel, footwear, accessories, and textiles — while not unexpected — is a real blow to American consumers and manufacturers alike," said Steve Lamar, president and chief executive officer of the American Apparel & Footwear Association.

美國服裝鞋類協會總裁兼首席執行官史蒂夫·拉馬爾（Steve Lamar）說：“延長對多種服裝、鞋類、配飾和紡織品征收301條款關稅的決定盡管并不出人意料，但對美國消費者和制造商來說都是一個真正的打擊?！?/p>

"The Biden Administration has had two years to get it right. Unfortunately, they doubled down on a flawed tariff policy, despite the Biden Administration's own acknowledgment that this policy has failed in its goals, and overwhelming public input that supported a different outcome," he said in a statement.

他在聲明中說：“拜登政府有兩年時間來做好這件事。不幸的是，他們在一項有缺陷的關稅政策上加倍下注，盡管拜登政府自己承認這項政策未能實現其目標，并且壓倒性的公眾投入支持不同的結果?！?/p>

The National Retail Federation also said it was "extremely disappointed" that the USTR and the Biden administration had chosen "to double down on a failed and inflationary strategy by sustaining and expanding the Section 301 China tariffs".

美國零售聯合會(National Retail Federation)還表示，它對美國貿易代表辦公室和拜登政府選擇“通過維持和擴大對華301條款關稅，在失敗和通脹戰略上加倍下注”感到“極其失望”。

"Maintaining these tariffs on consumer goods will increase costs that consumers pay on everyday products imported from China,"said David French, executive vice-president of government relations.

政府關系執行副總裁大衛·弗倫奇(David French)說，“維持這些消費品關稅將增加消費者為從中國進口的日常產品支付的成本?！?/p>

The US-China Business Council, a nongovernmental organization representing many of the world's largest brands doing business in China, also noted that maintenance of the prior tariffs — with no reductions — and imposition of additional tariffs ultimately make it harder for American companies to compete in the US and abroad, cost American jobs, and increase prices for US manufacturers and consumers during a time of ongoing inflation.

代表許多在中國做生意的世界大品牌的非政府組織美中貿易全國委員會也指出，維持以前的關稅(沒有削減)和征收額外關稅最終會使美國公司更難在美國和海外競爭，損失美國的就業機會，并在持續通脹時期提高美國制造商和消費者的價格。

"Additionally, levying new tariffs invites retaliation from China, which combined could further disadvantage US companies selling goods and services in China's market compared to their foreign competitors,"?USCBC President Craig Allen said.

美中貿易全國委員主席克雷格·艾倫說（Craig Allen）：“此外，征收新關稅會招致中國的報復，與外國競爭對手相比，這可能會進一步使在中國市場銷售商品和服務的美國公司處于不利地位?！?/p>