美國(guó)欲聯(lián)合歐日打擊中國(guó)知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)

The Trump administration is seeking to convince the EU and Japan to join its efforts to tackle China over Beijing’s intellectual property regime as it tries to address one of the top concerns of foreign businesses operating in China.

特朗普政府正尋求說(shuō)服歐盟(EU)和日本，與美國(guó)聯(lián)手打擊中國(guó)的知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)制度，此際，美國(guó)試圖化解在華外資企業(yè)的首要擔(dān)憂之一。

The move follows Washington’s launch in the summer of an investigation into Chinese IP theft and forced technology transfer rules that some fear could lead to US tariffs and a trade war between the world’s two largest economies. It also marks the administration’s first major attempt to co-operate with traditional trade allies in taking on China.

今年夏季，美國(guó)政府針對(duì)中國(guó)侵犯知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)以及強(qiáng)迫技術(shù)轉(zhuǎn)讓的行為啟動(dòng)調(diào)查，一些人擔(dān)心，調(diào)查可能會(huì)導(dǎo)致美國(guó)征收關(guān)稅，同時(shí)全球最大的兩個(gè)經(jīng)濟(jì)體將爆發(fā)貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)。這還標(biāo)志著美國(guó)政府與傳統(tǒng)貿(mào)易盟友合作對(duì)抗中國(guó)的首次重大努力。

However, European and Japanese officials are wary and point to what they see as the risk in co-operating with a bellicose and mercurial US president who has vowed to pursue an “America First” foreign and trade policy.

然而，歐洲和日本官員有所顧忌，他們認(rèn)為與一位好戰(zhàn)且多變的美國(guó)總統(tǒng)合作是危險(xiǎn)的，特朗普發(fā)誓將推行“美國(guó)優(yōu)先”的外交和貿(mào)易政策。

Their reluctance follows battles over the administration’s now-stalled push to impose tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium that would have hit allies such as Germany, Japan and South Korea hard. It also highlights how Donald Trump’s presidency has rewritten US relationships, making it harder for Washington to assemble the sort of diplomatic coalitions that presidents have traditionally used to tackle issues of mutual economic interest.

此前，美國(guó)政府采取的現(xiàn)已停滯的對(duì)鋼鐵和鋁進(jìn)口征收關(guān)稅的舉措引發(fā)爭(zhēng)議，此舉將嚴(yán)重?fù)p害德國(guó)、日本和韓國(guó)等盟友。這還突顯出，唐納德•特朗普(Donald Trump)擔(dān)任總統(tǒng)改寫(xiě)了美國(guó)關(guān)系，這加大了美國(guó)政府召集外交聯(lián)盟的難度，美國(guó)總統(tǒng)一直利用這種外交聯(lián)盟解決經(jīng)濟(jì)互利的問(wèn)題。

According to senior officials familiar with the discussions, the US began approaching European Commission officials and EU member states as well as officials in Japan over the summer. The first approaches came just before Mr Trump signed an executive memorandum ordering US trade representative Robert Lighthizer to launch an investigation into China’s IP practice.

據(jù)了解相關(guān)會(huì)談的高級(jí)官員稱，美國(guó)從今年夏季開(kāi)始接觸歐盟委員會(huì)(European Commission)官員和歐盟成員國(guó)以及日本官員。首批接觸就在特朗普簽署行政備忘錄命令美國(guó)貿(mào)易代表羅伯特•萊特希澤(Robert Lighthizer)針對(duì)中國(guó)知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)慣例展開(kāi)調(diào)查之前。

The “Section 301” investigation is controversial because it would give Mr Trump powers to impose unilateral tariffs and take other measures against China that could spark a trade war. The probe is expected to take up to a year, although some administration officials are pushing for it to be completed by the end of this year.

這次“301條款”(Section 301)調(diào)查備受爭(zhēng)議，因?yàn)檫@將讓特朗普有權(quán)征收單邊關(guān)稅并針對(duì)中國(guó)采取其他措施，這將引發(fā)貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)。預(yù)計(jì)調(diào)查將耗時(shí)一年，不過(guò)美國(guó)政府一些官員正推動(dòng)其在今年年底之前完成。

According to one person briefed on the talks, US trade officials suggested during a visit to Tokyo last month that Japan could take its own unilateral measures. However, Japanese officials pointed out there were no statutes on their books to allow this.

據(jù)獲得此次會(huì)談簡(jiǎn)要介紹的一位人士稱，美國(guó)貿(mào)易官員曾在上月出訪日本時(shí)建議，日本可以采取自己的單邊措施。然而，日本官員指出，日本沒(méi)有這種法規(guī)。

European and Japanese officials have told US counterparts that they would not join any action that would result in the US flouting World Trade Organisation rules, something that some nationalist members of the administration are keen to see.

歐洲和日本官員告訴美國(guó)官員，他們不會(huì)加入任何將導(dǎo)致美國(guó)無(wú)視世界貿(mào)易組織(WTO)規(guī)定的行動(dòng)，而這種無(wú)視是美國(guó)政府內(nèi)部一些民粹主義官員希望看到的。

“I don’t think we would be ready to support the US if at the end of the investigation they decide to go unilateral,” said one senior EU official.

一位歐洲高官表示：“我認(rèn)為，如果在調(diào)查結(jié)束時(shí)，他們決定采取單邊行動(dòng)的話，那么我們還沒(méi)有準(zhǔn)備好支持美國(guó)。”

The EU and Japan have, however, indicated that they might be willing to work with the US if Mr Trump’s China fight results in one or more cases being brought against Beijing at the WTO.

然而，歐盟和日本表示，如果特朗普與中國(guó)的斗爭(zhēng)導(dǎo)致在WTO針對(duì)中國(guó)提起一項(xiàng)或更多訴訟的話，他們?cè)敢馀c美國(guó)合作。

Through a spokeswoman, Mr Lighthizer declined to confirm the approaches to the EU and Japan.

萊特希澤通過(guò)一位發(fā)言人拒絕證實(shí)美國(guó)與歐盟和日本的接觸。

Companies from Europe, Japan and the US have increasingly complained about Chinese IP theft, hacking and industrial espionage in recent years. They have also raised growing concerns about rules that force them to take Chinese joint venture partners and transfer sensitive technologies in order to do business in China.

最近幾年，越來(lái)越多的來(lái)自歐洲、日本和美國(guó)的公司指控中國(guó)竊取知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)、非法入侵和從事工業(yè)間諜活動(dòng)。它們還對(duì)中國(guó)的一些規(guī)定愈發(fā)擔(dān)憂，這些規(guī)定迫使它們?yōu)榱嗽谥袊?guó)經(jīng)商，與中國(guó)合作伙伴組建合資公司并轉(zhuǎn)讓敏感技術(shù)。

During a rare public appearance in Washington this week Mr Lighthizer, a longtime China hawk, also sent mixed signals on whether the administration would be willing to take its fight to the WTO.

此外，本周在華盛頓罕見(jiàn)公開(kāi)露面時(shí)，長(zhǎng)期對(duì)中國(guó)持強(qiáng)硬態(tài)度的萊特希澤在美國(guó)政府是否愿意把戰(zhàn)斗打到WTO發(fā)出了混雜的信號(hào)。

He said the US did not want to “prejudge” the outcome of the IP probe or what actions it might take. “If we turn up WTO violations, we’ll bring them to the WTO,” said Mr Lighthizer. “We’re not precluded from doing that, by any means.”

他表示，美國(guó)不希望“預(yù)先判斷”知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)調(diào)查的結(jié)果或者可能采取什么措施。“如果我們發(fā)現(xiàn)違反WTO規(guī)定的行為，我們將上訴至WTO，”他表示，“無(wú)論如何，我們不排除這么做。”

But he also separately argued that the WTO was not equipped to deal with China, calling Beijing’s economic model state-backed “mercantilism” and “a threat to the world trading system that is unprecedented”.

但他另外辯稱，WTO不具備對(duì)付中國(guó)的能力，他把中國(guó)的經(jīng)濟(jì)模式稱為由政府支持的“重商主義”和“對(duì)世界貿(mào)易體系的空前威脅”。

“The WTO and its predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, were not designed to successfully manage mercantilism on this scale,” he added. “We must find other ways to defend our companies, workers, farmers, and indeed our economic system.”

“WTO及其前身關(guān)貿(mào)總協(xié)定(GATT)的目的不是成功對(duì)付這種規(guī)模的重商主義，”他補(bǔ)充稱，“我們必須找到其他方法保護(hù)我們的公司、員工、農(nóng)民以及實(shí)際上我們的經(jīng)濟(jì)體制。”