中国忠旺被指逃避关税 Chinese group accused over US export duties

An American trade association has brought a case against China Zhongwang Holdings, the Hong Kong-listed aluminium producer, alleging that it has evaded duties on exports to the US.

美国一个行业协会对在香港上市的铝生产商中国忠旺控股(China Zhongwang Holdings)提出申诉，称其逃避了对美国出口的关税。

In a filing to the US Department of Commerce, the Aluminum Extruders Council alleges that the Chinese company “systematically and illegally” avoided payments by cutting and welding its aluminium extrusions into slabs so they would be classified as pallets — which are not subject to the same duties.

美国铝挤压材协会(Aluminum Extruders Council)在提交美国商务部(Department of Commerce)的申诉书中声称，这家中国公司“系统化和非法地”逃避交税，采用的手段是把铝挤压材切割和焊接成铝板，使其被列为托板，不适用相同关税。

It is bringing the case at a time when aluminium producers are increasingly under pressure, with prices for the lightweight metal trading at their lowest in six years, amid a global surplus. China produces about half of the world’s aluminium, which is used in the construction, transport, and automotive sectors.

该协会提出申诉之际，铝生产商面临着越来越大的压力，在全球过剩的背景下，这种轻质金属的价格跌至6年来最低位。中国生产全球约一半的铝，用在建筑、交通、汽车等行业。

The US Department of Commerce has 45 days from the date of filing to decide whether it will launch an investigation.

美国商务部自申诉之日起有45天决定会不会展开调查。

“Given the severity of this case to our domestic industry, we call on the Department of Commerce to investigate this case,” Jeff Henderson, director of operations at the AEC, said.

“鉴于本案对我们国内产业的严重性，我们呼吁商务部调查此案，”美国铝挤压材协会运营总监杰夫亨德森(Jeff Henderson)表示。

China Zhongwang said it exported and classified its products in accordance with government regulations and international trade rules, and maintained that its exports to the US were not covered by duties. “The report lacks basic knowledge of the industry,” it said.

忠旺控股表示，它按照政府法规和国际贸易规则出口和分类产品，该公司坚称，它对美出口不适用关税。“这份报告缺乏基本的行业知识，”忠旺表示。

China provides a VAT rebate for exports of aluminium extrusions that critics claim has been abused. They say it encourages the practice of simply melting the metal down outside the country, into simpler primary metal.

中国向出口铝型材提供增值税退税，批评者称该项政策遭到滥用。他们表示，这鼓励了在国外熔回成原铝的做法。

In July, an unknown group calling itself Dupré Analytics published a report alleging that China Zhongwang and its founder Liu Zhongtianhad routed exports through undisclosed related companies, to obtain tax rebates from the Chinese government.

今年7月，此前不为人知的组织Dupré Analytics发布一份报告，指控忠旺及其创始人刘忠田通过未披露的关联公司出口，以便从中国政府获得出口退税。