原文网址：http://0rz.tw/ec4JL Taking another road Aug 21st 2008 From The Economist print edition China finds a way to cut car imports without offending the WTO LESS than a month after losing its first legal dispute with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), China has introduced a new tax that will achieve much of what it originally wanted, only by another route. Moreover, it is a “green” tax. Who could object to that? 在输掉与世贸组织第一次的官司之後不到一个月，中国开徵了一种新税来达成 她原本的目的，这次是藉由另一种方式。而且这种新税可是一种「环保税」喔， 可说完全站得住脚。 For the past few years China has imposed a special 25% tariff on imported car parts, rather than the usual 10%, if the parts made up more than half of the value of a vehicle. (Imported new cars are also subject to a 25% tariff.) This was to encourage foreign carmakers to use more local suppliers and reduce imports. But America, the European Union and Canada argued that the tariff was against WTO rules. In July the WTO, based in Geneva, agreed. 在过去几年，如果进口车辆零件的价值超过车辆价值的一半，中国会对这些零件 课徵特别关税，税率达25％，而非一般的10％。（进口新车也适用这25％的关税税率） 这种政策的目的是为了鼓励外国汽车制造商与更多本地供应商合作，以及减少进口。 但是美国，欧盟，与加拿大声称此种关税违反世贸组织规定。七月时，总部设於 日内瓦的世贸组织对他们的意见表示同意。 China may yet appeal. In the meantime, the government has found another way to reduce the flow of expensive automotive imports. On August 13th the government announced a new “green” tax that will come into effect on September 1st. The new tax is meant to reduce fuel consumption and fight pollution. Rather than further raising the tax on fuel, which increased by almost 20% in June, the government is taxing gas-guzzling cars. By an amazing coincidence, most such cars are foreign-made. 中国可能还会上诉。於此同时，中国政府找到了另一种方法来减少昂贵汽车的进口。 8月13日时中国政府宣布一种新的「环保税」将於9月1日开始生效。实施此种新税 的目的是要减少能源消耗并对抗污染问题。燃料税於6月时几乎增加了20％。中国 政府并没有再增加燃料税，却对耗油量高的车徵税。很凑巧的是，耗油量高的车大 部分都是外国车。 Cars with engine capacities larger than 4.1 litres will now incur a 40% sales tax—twice the previous level. Cars with engines between 3 and 4.1 litres will be taxed at 25%, up from 15%. The tax on the smallest cars, with engines smaller than 1 litre, will fall from 3% to 1%. The 8% and 10% taxes on other cars will not change. 引擎容量超过41公升的车现在会被课40％的销售税，税率比之前高两倍。引擎容量3 到4.1公升的车则会被课25％的税，之前的税率是15％。最小型车，也就是引擎容量 小於1公升的车，税率则由3％降到1％。其他型车辆的8％和10％税率则不会改变。 The government says the new tax will encourage a shift to more fuel-efficient cars. It will also help Chinese carmakers, as they tend to make cars with engines smaller than 2.5 litres. Foreign carmakers, which make most of the cars with larger engines, will suffer. Imported large-engine cars achieved record sales-growth in the first half of 2008, increasing by 26%, to 80,700 units. Imports of cars with 3-litre engines grew by more than 50%, and imports of sport-utility vehicles were up 79%. 中国政府表示徵新税会让大家使用更节省能源的车，另外也会帮助中国汽车制造商， 因为他们生产的车辆引擎容量通常小於2.5公升。因为外国汽车制造商生产的车大部分 引擎容量比较大，他们会因此遭受冲击。进口大型引擎汽车在2008上半年创纪录卖出了 80,700辆，销售成长幅度为26％。引擎容量3公升的进口车成长超过50％，进口休旅车 成长79％。 But there were signs of a slowdown even before the new tax. Although the Chinese car market bucked the global trend in the first half, higher fuel costs and tumbling stockmarkets are now putting buyers off. Overall sales are still expected to rise this year by 8-10%, but this is half the level predicted at the start of the year, and far less than struggling foreign carmakers were hoping for. 然而，在新税开始课徵前，销售量就有下滑的迹象。虽然中国汽车市场在上半年有搭 上全球销售顺风车，但是高能源支出和不稳定的股市现在却使汽车买家打退堂鼓。 今年的整体销售预期仍会成长8-10％，但是仅有年初预计的一半，更与苦撑的外国车 商的期望大相径庭。 China’s new tax is canny. It cuts fuel use, reduces imports, benefits local carmakers and may help to improve air quality. It also prevents any more pesky calls from Geneva. 中国课徵新税是一种很精明的作法。这样做不但可以降低燃料使用，减少进口， 使本地汽车商得利，还可能帮助改善空气品质。也能堵住世贸组织的嘴。 --

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