美欧怀疑中国金属绕道越南再出口

Growing US and European political pressure over Chinese steel exports has put Vietnam at the centre of a dispute that could widen tensions over international trade as well as regional security.

美国和欧洲针对中国钢材出口不断加大的政治压力，把越南推到一场争端的风口浪尖，这场争端可能使围绕国际贸易以及地区安全的紧张局势扩大化。

Washington and Brussels are investigating alleged shipments of Chinese metals through Vietnam to avoid tariffs in Western countries.

华盛顿和布鲁塞尔正在调查有关中国金属产品通过越南再出口，以逃避西方国家关税的指控。

The unwelcome attention could threaten the access Vietnam’s exports enjoy in western markets. It could also bring Hanoi into conflict with Beijing, at a time when Vietnam’s leaders have been improving defence co-operation with the US as a counterweight to China.

这种不受欢迎的关注可能危及越南出口产品在西方市场享有的准入程度。它也可能使河内与北京方面发生冲突，目前越南领导人正在推动与美国加强防务合作，作为抗衡中国的手段。

Both the US and the EU want to clamp down on metal shipments by Chinese exporters whose prices undercut domestic companies. Western aluminium businesses have alleged that Chinese production is passing through Vietnam for remelting and onward shipment to the US.

美国和欧盟都希望遏制中国出口企业的金属产品出口，因为这些产品的价格使美欧本土企业无法竞争。西方铝产品企业称，中国的产品在越南再熔化，然后发运到美国。

Olaf, the EU’s anti-fraud agency, said it was investigating the alleged transshipment by Chinese companies of steel through Vietnam to disguise its origins and avoid European duties. It declined to give further details, except to say that it was co-operating with relevant Vietnamese authorities.

欧盟反欺诈办公室(OLAF)表示，其正在调查有关中国企业通过越南再出口钢材、以掩饰原产地和逃避欧洲关税的指控。该机构拒绝提供进一步细节，仅表示它在与越南有关部门合作。

Vietnam has confirmed it is co-operating with the EU probe, according to media reports. The government did not respond to a request for comment.

据媒体报道，越南已证实它在配合欧盟的调查。越南政府没有回应记者的置评请求。

Exports of steel from Vietnam to the US have surged more than tenfold in 2016, while Chinese exports to Vietnam have also risen. The US Department of Commerce is investigating whether Chinese trading companies have exported cold-rolled steel, an intermediate product, to Vietnam for further processing and export. A second Washington probe is looking at the international market in corrosion-resistant steel.

2016年以来，越南对美国的钢材出口量猛增十倍以上，而中国对越南的出口也有所上升。美国商务部(Department of Commerce)正在调查中国贸易公司是否向越南出口冷轧钢，然后在越南对这种中间产品作进一步加工后出口。美方第二项调查的关注对象是耐蚀钢的国际市场。

Similar allegations have dogged Chinese aluminium processors, particularly China Zhongwang Holdings, as a glut of the metal has driven down international prices. Western competitors accuse China Zhongwang of transhipping through Vietnam to avoid tariffs in the US and to collect export rebates in China. China has excess aluminium capacity because abundant hydropower and coal have cut the cost of the energy needed to produce the metal.

随着过剩金属产品压低国际价格，类似的指控一直困扰着中国铝加工企业，特别是中国忠旺控股(China Zhongwang Holdings)。西方竞争对手指控忠旺通过越南再出口，以避免美国关税，同时获得中国的出口退税。中国铝产能过剩，因为充足的水电和煤炭削减了生产这种金属产品所需的能源成本。

Zhongwang said last week that it took US trade laws seriously and had already stopped making the products in question almost two years ago.

忠旺上周表示，它认真对待美国贸易法律，在近两年前就已停止生产相关产品。

China accounts for about half the world’s production of steel and aluminium. While its metals exports cause political resentment in the US and Europe, its demand for ore to feed its mills and smelters helps buoy profits for mining companies based in the US, UK, Brazil and Australia.

中国占世界钢铁和铝产量的一半左右。尽管其金属出口在美国和欧洲引起政治不满，但其钢厂和冶炼厂对矿石的需求帮助提振了总部位于美国、英国、巴西和澳大利亚的矿业公司的利润。

The western investigations put Vietnam in a tricky position as it seeks to push back against Beijing in territorial conflicts, while avoiding angering its giant neighbour or inflaming anti-Chinese sentiment at home.

西方的调查使越南陷入棘手处境，该国正试图在领土冲突中抗拒北京方面的要求，同时避免激怒其巨大邻国，或在国内激起反华情绪。

The long-running dispute over the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea triggered anti-Chinese riots in 2014.

围绕南中国海帕拉塞尔群岛（Paracel islands，中国称西沙群岛）的长期争端2014年曾在越南引发反华暴乱。