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中国-东盟自贸区将开辟新的贸易空间

NEWS.SOHU.COM 　　2005年07月19日11:51　　大洋网

　　在中国与东盟《货物贸易协议》行将实施之际，新华社记者近日对东盟各国政要进行了专访。受访官员纷纷表示，此举将推动东盟各国的经济发展，也必将为中国与东盟的经贸合作开辟广阔的新天地。

　　泰国：30%百姓直接受益

　　泰国农业和食品加工业最先获益荩中国10年内成为泰国最大出口市场荩未来10年中国成为泰国最大游客来源国

　　泰国商业部部长他侬·披塔亚指出，东盟各国的经济发展水平悬殊很大，但由于中国市场广大，东盟各成员国几乎都能在与中国实施自由贸易的过程中结合自身特点开拓发展机遇，为各国百姓带来切实利益。他认为，泰国的农业和食品加工业将最先在和中国的自由贸易中获利。泰国全国人口的三分之一都从事与农业相关的产业，这意味着与中国的自由贸易将直接改善全国30%的老百姓的生活。

　　中国商务部公布的数据显示，2004年中泰贸易总额为173.4亿美元，实现37%的年增长率。他侬说，目前中国是泰国第三大出口市场，仅次于美国和日本，中国还是仅次于日本的泰国第二大进口地。而中泰目前只实施了对蔬菜水果等农产品免去关税的“早期收获计划”，因此双边贸易仍有极大发展潜力。他预计，中泰之间全面实施自由贸易后，中国将在未来10年内成为泰国产品的最大出口目的地。

　　他告诉记者，更重要的是，中国-东盟自贸区的启动不仅有利于泰国对外贸易，还将带动泰国经济的全面发展，为中泰经贸合作开辟新天地。比如，泰国政府预计未来10年内，中国游客总数将位居泰国接待各国游客之首，他们的到来将带动泰国各旅游相关行业的全面发展。此外，泰国政府有意将泰国建设为中国和东盟之间的物流、人流和投资中转中心，从而实现本国经济的长足发展。

　　马来西亚：为商户打开广阔天地

　　将有更多东盟企业去中国投资建厂荩马来西亚正努力建成东南亚教育中心荩中国已成马来西亚海外游客和留学生主要来源之一马国际贸易和工业部副部长马袖强指出，中国-东盟自贸区协议不仅涵盖货物贸易，也包括投资和服务业领域的合作。中国对包括马来西亚在内的东南亚各国的直接投资将有望增加，而随着自贸协议所规定的透明度和进一步开放市场等承诺的落实，也将有更多的东盟企业去中国投资建厂，共享商机。

　　在谈到自贸区对马来西亚的影响时，马袖强说，马来西亚只有2500多万人口，国内市场有限，而自贸区的建立为马来西亚商户打开了一个广阔的天地。引进良性竞争可以有效激发马国内生产商和销售商的积极性，有助于提高本土制造业的质量。而随着中国商品输入马来西亚市场，本国的消费者亦可拥有更多的选择。

　　马袖强表示，马中两国不仅在经贸方面的合作前景广阔，而且在旅游、教育等领域亦有潜力可挖。马政府正在努力将马来西亚建成东南亚地区教育中心，也将采取一些新措施吸引更多的中国游客来马感受浓郁的热带风情。

　　据马官方提供的数据，2004年来马旅游的中国游客人数增加了48.5%。据中方的统计，目前中国在马的留学生有1.3万多人。中国已成为马来西亚海外游客和留学生的主要来源之一。

　　菲律宾：物价水平有望降低

　　菲律宾电子产品、服装、水果和原材料出口将极大受益荩菲律宾将在服务贸易方面发挥更大优势荩中国较高储蓄率将为菲律宾经济建设补充资本

　　菲律宾贸工部国际贸易关系局局长卡比廷认为，就商品贸易而言，《货物贸易协议》将使更多种类和数量的中国商品进入菲律宾市场，满足消费者的多种要求，还会拉低目前居高不下的物价水平。特别是中国品种繁多的蔬菜，可以大大丰富老百姓的饭桌；还有中国发达的制造业，能够在很大程度上补充菲律宾轻工产品的市场空缺。

　　与此同时，菲律宾出口商也将面对更广阔和具有潜力的中国市场。卡比廷说，菲律宾的电子产品、服装、水果和原材料出口将极大受益于这一自由贸易协议。他预计，两国贸易量将迅速增长，这一协议对于菲中两国将产生“双赢”成果。

　　卡比廷还指出，作为服务业发达的菲律宾期待这一自由贸易协议顺利推进，将来能在服务贸易方面发挥更大优势。他同时认为，中国经济迅速崛起，中国拥有较高的储蓄率，而菲律宾目前正需要大量资本投入经济建设，希望能在自由贸易协议框架下的跨国投资中与中国建立更紧密的合作关系。

　　卡比廷说，另一方面，取消关税壁垒，菲律宾一些产业势必面临中国物美价廉的产品带来的市场竞争。但菲政府认为，挑战也是一种机遇。为了生存，菲律宾生产和出口商将会想方设法提高产品质量和服务水平，根据市场需求重新调整生产结构，这将有利于菲律宾的产业重组和市场竞争实力的增强。

　　中国-东盟自贸区将催生国际城市带

　　广西城市规划部门日前完成的《“中国-东盟博览会”与大南宁空间发展规划研究》预测，随着中国-东盟自由贸易区的加快建立，从河内、南宁、海口到珠江三角洲将出现中越国际城市带，带内将形成珠江三角洲国际城市群、南宁国际城市和河内国际城市。

　　南宁市自2004年成为中国-东盟博览会永久举办地后，其城市空间发展获得千载难逢的机遇。专家认为，从越南首都河内到中国香港区域范围内，目前已有香港这个公认的著名国际城市，河内和广州已被有关国际组织列入国际城市的行列，同时，深圳、澳门、海口、南宁、昆明等城市提出了相关的国际城市发展目标。南宁面临的国际化进程既有压力，也有动力。南宁市如今的优势非常突出而独特：中国-东盟博览会永久举办地的磁场效应和面向东盟的独特地理位置。

　　专家建议，南宁市应充分利用独特优势和珠江三角洲城市国际化的溢出效应，建立自身强大和稳固的区域支撑体系，即建立涵盖北海、钦州、防城港和崇左等周边城市的桂南发展圈，以此来参加中越国际城市带的建设，最终将自身发展成国际城市。

　　从长远看，继珠江三角洲、长江三角洲和环渤海湾三大城市密集区之后，桂南发展圈有望发展成为环北部湾的第四大城市密集区。

　　2003年10月8日，中国总理温家宝在第七次中国与东盟(10+1)领导人会议上建议，从2004年起每年在中国广西南宁举办中国-东盟博览会。作为中国推进自由贸易区建设的一项实际行动，这一建议得到了各国领导人的普遍欢迎，并写入会后发表的主席声明。第二届博览会将于2005年10月19日至22日在南宁举办。(李世莘)

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中国东盟7000种商品明起全面降税

NEWS.SOHU.COM 　　2005年07月19日11:55　　大洋网

　　从7月20日起，中国与东南亚国家联盟(东盟)正式开始对原产对方的约7000种商品相互给予优惠关税待遇，以自由贸易区的税率实现彼此货物的通关。

　　东盟秘书长王景荣日前在接受新华社记者专访时说，东盟-中国自由贸易区的启动将极大推动东亚地区的经贸发展，是东盟-中国经贸关系发展史上的重要里程碑。

　　王景荣说，东盟和中国联合进行的可行性研究表明，自贸区的建立，将创造一个拥有17亿消费者的经济区域，其国内生产总值约2万亿美元，贸易总额估计为1.23万亿美元。

　　他说，自贸区的运营可以使东盟和中国相互之间取消贸易壁垒，降低成本，增加区内贸易额，提高经济效益。同时，它还可以在东盟成员国和中国之间建立一种共同体意识，为东亚经济稳定提供另一个重要的机制，并使东盟和中国在共同关心的国际贸易事务中拥有更大的发言权。

　　他认为，东盟和中国将在自贸区框架之下继续保持双边贸易的迅猛增长势头，双边贸易额有望在2005年年底之前达到1000亿美元，这也是中国国家总理温家宝2003年在印尼巴厘岛举行的东盟-中国高峰会议上定下的目标。与此同时，双边贸易额的增长还会带动东盟和中国在其他领域关系的发展。

　　王景荣说，所有东盟国家都将从自贸区中受益，但受益程度取决于每个国家的自身能力和应变准备。东盟已为其成员国培育了一个可以创造大量商机的环境，接下来就要看每个国家确立的相关战略是否得当。东盟不仅要监督自贸区机制的实施，还要敦促各个成员国政府向本国的工商业机构普及有关自贸区的基本知识和使用技能。

　　《中国-东盟全面经济合作框架协议货物贸易协议》于7月1日正式实施，双方用20天的时间对彼此的关税减让表进行技术性核查，并调整相关的海关数据系统。从7月20日起，正式开始按照协议规定的时间表，对原产于中国和东盟的产品相互给予优惠关税待遇。

　　中国-东盟自由贸易区是中国与东盟10国建立的自由贸易安排。2004年11月29日，双方在老挝万象签署了《货物贸易协议》。协议共23个条款，3个附件。根据协议，货物贸易产品除早期收获产品外，余下产品分为正常产品和敏感产品，其中正常产品近7000种。正常产品和敏感产品的区别为：正常产品的关税要削减直至取消，敏感产品的关税受到上限的约束，但不必取消关税。

　　协议对正常产品降税提出了以下额外要求：中国和东盟6个老成员国(指泰国、新加坡、马来西亚、印度尼西亚、菲律宾和文莱)至2005年7月40%税目的关税降到0～5%；2007年1月60%税目的关税要降到0～5%。老挝和缅甸至2009年1月、柬埔寨至2012年1月50%的税目的关税降到0～5%；2013年40%税目的关税降到零。越南2010年50%税目的关税降到0～5%。

　　部分国家关税结构现状

　　一、泰国税率高于20%的产品：主要为咖啡，茶、香料，面粉，油脂，糖，蔬菜制品，烟草，塑料、橡胶制品，木制品，纸制品，纺织品，鞋、帽等轻工产品和玻璃制品，钢铁及其制品，机电产品，机动车辆等；税率为15%的产品：主要为钢铁及其制品；税率10%～15%的产品：主要为木材及纸制品，纺织品，钢铁，机电产品；税率5%～10%的产品：主要为饲料、机电产品。

　　二、马来西亚税率20%的产品：主要为纺织品，鱼制品，可可制品，蔬菜制品，酒，塑料及橡胶制品，鞋、靴等轻工产品，玻璃制品，钢铁，机电产品，汽车、摩托车及自行车；税率为15%的产品：主要为食糖、化工产品、纸制品、纺织品、钢铁、机电产品等；税率10%的产品：主要为油脂、纸制品、纺织品、钢铁制品；税率为5%～10%的产品：主要为特种纺织品；税率为5%及以下的产品：主要为木制品、纸制品、纺织品、拖拉机、小排量汽车、机动车零附件、自行车及摩托车零附件等。

　　三、印度尼西亚税率20%以上的产品：主要为食糖、酒、塑料及橡胶制品、钢铁及制品、机动车辆等；税率15%的产品：主要为活鱼、化工制品、天然橡胶、皮革、纸制品、纺织品、钢铁制品、机电产品、机动车辆等；税率10%的产品：主要为纺织品、油脂、化工产品、木材、轻工产品、钢铁制品、自行车等；零税率产品：主要为农产品、高端钢铁制品、机电产品等。

　　四、菲律宾税率高于20%的产品：主要为活动物、猪肉、家禽肉、蔬菜、大米、糖、咖啡、机动车辆、摩托车等；税率15%的产品：主要为塑料制品、木制品、纺织品、钢铁制品、机电产品；税率10%的产品：主要为鱼、油脂、天然橡胶、纸制品、轻工产品、玻璃制品、钢铁制品、机电产品。

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中国-东盟自由贸易区1.2万亿美元大市场凸现

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http://finance.sina.com.cn 2005年06月26日 12:24 和讯网－《财经》杂志

　　被寄予经济和政治双赢希望的中国-东盟自由贸易区的建立，是中国加入WTO后在区域合作上迈出的最重要一步

　　张蕴岭/文

　　7月1日，中国-东盟自由贸易区《货物贸易协议》开始实施，近7000种商品将按商定时间表降税。这意味着一个拥有17亿人口、国内生产总值达2万亿美元、贸易总额为1.2万亿美元大市场的历史性开局。中国在加入WTO以后重视区域合作，中国-东盟自由贸易区的建设是最重要的一步。

　　2000年，朱镕基总理在新加坡首先提出创建中国-东盟自由贸易区的动议。随后，中国与东盟联合专家组于2001年递交了研究报告，提出用10年时间建成中国-东盟自由贸易区。2002年计划进入前期筹备阶段。

　　考虑到东盟一些国家对建立与中国自由贸易区的担心，双方首先启动的是“早期收获”(Early Harvest)计划，即在达成自由贸易区协定之前，先期给予东盟国家一些现实的贸易利益，不对等地开放农产品贸易，使东盟国家感到与中国建立紧密经济关系以及开放市场大有裨益，以减少东盟诸国的疑虑。

　　应该说，“早期收获”计划是对传统自由贸易区的一个创新。

　　泰国是第一个与中国订立“早期收获”计划的东盟国家，马来西亚、菲律宾也随后加入。“早期收获”计划从2003年开始实施，为期四年。“早期收获”计划选择对东盟400种农产品实行零关税，而不要求互惠让步——这在发展中国家是没有先例的。

　　到2004年底，中国-东盟自由贸易区的货物贸易谈判完成。货物产品开放分为两步：第一是对较发达国家，用不到10年时间实现大部分产品零关税；第二是对欠发达的东盟新成员，给予三至五年的过渡期。由此，中国—东盟自由贸易区的建成时间为2010年至2012年。

　　实际上，在自由贸易协定安排下，7000种产品绝大部分将实现零关税，而部分敏感产品则将分步进行。开放的产品约占目前中国和东盟贸易产品总额的95%。

　　产品开放将带来积极的效应，这会进一步改善中国与东盟之间的整体贸易氛围，加强经济联系。尽管在中国与东盟的贸易中，资源产品和中间产品占的比例很大，它们的实际税率已很低——自由贸易区将大大减少管理成本；同时，中国经济发展带来的需求增长，将使双方既有经济联系进一步加强。近几年东盟对中国出口增长迅速，年平均增幅在30%以上，自由贸易区会加强这种势头。同时，这会为中国对东盟的出口提供新机遇。目前中国在与东盟的贸易中处于大量逆差，且呈上升趋势。但东盟市场仍是有机会和有潜力的，中国企业可利用零关税和低成本优势加大对东盟市场进入的力度。另外，亦可利用东盟内部的自由贸易区，到东盟投资生产。

　　中国对东盟出口产品的主要优势，一是零关税，二是低成本。东盟市场结构不仅在很多方面适应中国，更重要的是作为一个整体市场，东盟内部存在自由贸易区，到东盟投资生产可利用零关税使产品在所有成员国市场进行销售。

　　国内企业过去一直存在一个误区，认为东南亚太穷，不在其出口扩大战略考虑之列。实际上，东盟每个国家都可能是某一类消费产品的大市场。以柬埔寨为例，中国制造的摩托车，21、25英寸彩电有着现实的需求。东盟国家不同的发展状态，恰恰为不同档次的同类产品提供了商机。东南亚放开市场可能为中国某些面临倒闭的劳动密集型中小企业带来机遇，小批量、技术含量偏低的产品将找到自己的市场。

　　货物贸易谈判结束后，将是投资和服务类谈判。投资谈判有三个重点：一是开放保护领域；二是投资保护；三是贸易便利条件。

　　这方面的谈判仍在进行准备，估计需要1年时间。开放投资领域意义重大，有些国家对电信业限制较多，有的则对某些制造业过度保护，还有的对当地资源进行投资的存在股权比例和投资规模等限制。投资谈判主要是为促进投资创造一个更有利的环境。过去东盟到我国投资较多，今后中国到东盟的投资亦会大幅增加。

　　服务领域涵盖广泛，包括劳务、运输和金融等。一旦谈判完成，此前已有合作协议的旅游业也将实现更大自由度，比如我国可多方开办旅游公司，直接办理旅游业务。

　　中国-东盟自由贸易区最重要的特点是中国把东盟作为“一个整体”来考虑。发展与东南亚关系是中国周边战略中最重要一环，同时涵盖政经领域。同时，把东南亚作为一个整体市场，也有利于中国企业“走出去”。作为离中国最近的一个市场，东南亚便于国内生产能力转移及资源开发。此外，东南亚也将是中国最重要的一个能源供应地。

　　在政治上，中国希望通过密切经济关系改善与东南亚整体关系。中国与一些东盟国家，如印尼、越南、柬埔寨等过去有很多冲突，如今通过密切经济关系来改善政治关系，效果非常明显。

　　总体看来，区域合作是一个大趋势，与全球化具有互补关系。我国对自由贸易安排采取了先易后难、由近及远的战略，东盟亦吻合这一思路。现在货物贸易自由区安排开始生效了，现实的利益和未来的潜力都很大，亟需把握。-

　　作者为中国社会科学院亚太研究所所长


http://finance.sina.com.cn/j/20050626/12241725401.shtml

People's Daily Online -- China, ASEAN agree to end tariffs

People's Daily Online -- China, ASEAN agree to end tariffsHome >> Business
UPDATED: 16:51, October 26, 2004
China, ASEAN agree to end tariffs



China has reached agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, on completely removing tariffs on merchandise goods by 2010 as part of a proposed free trade agreement, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce says.

The agreement on ending most tariffs was reached during a meeting last week in Beijing and will be signed at a China-ASEAN leaders' summit next month, the ministry said in a statement posted Tuesday on its Web site.

The two sides will begin to implement the tariff cuts from 2005, it cited ministry spokesman Chong Quan as saying.

China ranks the 10-nation ASEAN as its fifth largest trading partner, with two-way trade currently accounting for more than one-tenth of the country's annual total trade volume of more than $850 billion.

ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand.

The two sides have been negotiating details of a trade pact for several months. Last month, there was a breakthrough when ASEAN agreed to grant China market economy status.

Under global trade rules, granting market economy status to a country lessens the scrutiny applied to domestic pricing policies, a major factor in investigating unfair trade practices such as dumping.

Chong said China places a high degree of importance on developing and deepening its economic relations with ASEAN.

Free-trade agreements have become increasingly popular due to the slow progress of ongoing multilateral talks at the World Trade Organization with China in several negotiations with trading partners.

Australia and China are conducting a feasibility study on a proposed free-trade agreement. If the study is favorable, Australia will also have to decide whether to grant China market economy status before further negotiations can proceed.

Source: China Daily/agencies

People's Daily Online -- China to cut tariff rates to six ASEAN nations

People's Daily Online -- China to cut tariff rates to six ASEAN nationsHome >> Business
UPDATED: 08:20, July 20, 2005
China to cut tariff rates to six ASEAN nations



China announced Tuesday it will lower the tariff rate imposed on goods from six members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 9.9 percent on average to 8.1 percent as of July 20.

The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council, or the Chinese central government, said the negotiated tariff rate of China-ASEAN Free Trade Zone will be applied to six ASEAN nations, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand.

With the imposition of the tariff rate, the tariff rates on 3, 408 types of goods from the six nations will be lower than that for most favored nations.

The negotiated tariff rate for other types of goods from the six countries will be as same as that for most favored nations in 2005.

Source: Xinhua

People's Daily Online -- Enterprises should know trade pact rules

People's Daily Online -- Enterprises should know trade pact rules

Home >> Opinion
UPDATED: 08:32, July 12, 2005
Enterprises should know trade pact rules



From July 20, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are scheduled to lower tariffs on more than 7,000 industrial goods.

The tangible step, in line with the Agreement on Trade in Goods signed between the two parties in November last year, is widely believed to be a milestone in forging the China-ASEAN free trade area (FTA), the first such alliance involving China.

But how will this affect Chinese companies? How many domestic firms understand and are ready for the windfall? How many entrepreneurs know how to respond?

According to a recent survey carried out by the China-ASEAN Business Council, 99 per cent of Chinese entrepreneurs had not yet read the Agreement on Trade in Goods.

Worse still, concepts like FTA, ASEAN and ASEAN 10 plus one were new to some respondents. When filling in questionnaires from the council, some took FTA to be the abbreviation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, some believed ASEAN, which in Chinese reads like "Eastern Union," was a grouping of cities in the east of the country, and some people said ASEAN 10 plus one referred to 10 experiences and one lesson in China's co-operation with ASEAN.

Such a situation is worrying, especially at a time when FTA has become the way forward in world trade and China is on the threshold of several major agreements.

Aside from the deal with ASEAN, China is busy with FTA negotiations with Australia, Chile, Pakistan and the Gulf Co-operation Council.

The Chinese Government has been active in making FTA proposals top leaders even suggested the establishment of an East Asia FTA covering ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea. But enterprises have been slow to catch up.

Less domestic companies than expected are reaping the benefits of the early harvest programme (EHP), under which China and ASEAN reduced tariffs on more than 500 agricultural products, such as vegetables and fruits, from the beginning of last year.

Insiders say many Chinese companies simply did not apply for the certificate of Chinese origin for their products, with which their exports could have enjoyed lower tariffs. In Fujian Province only 5.2 per cent of export products listed under EHP were covered by certificates in the first half of last year.

Even in Yunnan Province, which borders Southeast Asian countries, few firms have applied for a certificate, while customs officials said a very limited number of companies had ever consulted them about the new tariff cuts to be initiated later this month.

Such a passive attitude has aroused concern among experts and officials who have been encouraging domestic companies to learn more about FTAs, and prepare to meet future opportunities and challenges.

The situation is similar to that in the 1990s when China was busy negotiating its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). Enterprises were urged to learn about relevant rules and hammer out new business strategies.

After years of joint work by government, enterprises and the media, we are happy to see the WTO has become a widely-known organization.

But now it is time for domestic firms to get used to the idea of the FTA as they did with the WTO. They should also seriously reconsider their strategies with the coming of the FTA era, and make timely business adjustments.

Overseas counterparts in Europe, North America and Southeast Asia are already very familiar with FTAs as they were initiated a decade, or even decades, ago in these areas.

Enterprises planning to invest in or conduct trade in areas with which China is in FTA talks must keep an eye on developments.

They should study thoroughly the contracts and related original manufacturing rules in order to produce, trade and store commodities according to tariff-cut schedules.

Meanwhile, new marketing strategies should also be worked out after investment and trade are mutually opened.

Of course, the government also has work to do.

One pressing task is to provide domestic enterprises with timely information related to FTAs. Details of agreements that have already been signed should also be made available to companies.

Insiders say an important reason why domestic exporters have not applied for certificates of Chinese origin is they have not yet got the Chinese version of the EHP agreements and do not know what kind of products are listed under the programme.

The Agreement on Trade in Goods, which will soon be implemented, has been in the process of being translated since November last year when the two sides inked the deal.

Without copies of the agreements enterprises are blind to which markets are open to their products, when their products enjoy lower tariffs and for what kind of products they can apply for certificates of Chinese origin.

Another important task is to establish and improve information services. Databases in investment environments, projects soliciting foreign investment and intermediary information institutions should be established.

Intermediary institutions such as business consultancies, law firms, accountants and patent firms should be encouraged to set up and support enterprises doing business in countries with FTA pacts with China.

Source: China Daily

People's Daily Online -- China to individually expand preferential tariff range for three Asian neighbors: Premier

People's Daily Online -- China to individually expand preferential tariff range for three Asian neighbors: Premier
Home >> Business
UPDATED: 17:03, July 05, 2005
China to individually expand preferential tariff range for three Asian neighbors: Premier



Premier Wen Jiabao announced in Kunming on Tuesday that China has decided to individually expand the range of products eligible for preferential tariff from the Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar as of January 1, 2006 with an aim to raise the level of intra-regional trade cooperation.

Wen made the announcement while addressing the opening ceremony of the second summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) in this capital city of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

People's Daily Online -- ASEAN becomes China's fourth biggest trading partner

People's Daily Online -- ASEAN becomes China's fourth biggest trading partner
Home >> Business
UPDATED: 17:12, July 21, 2005
ASEAN becomes China's fourth biggest trading partner



According to the statistics provided by the Customs, China-ASEAN bilateral trade volumes hit 59.76 billion US dollars in the first half of this year, increasing by 25% compared to the same period of last year. The trade volume between China and ASEAN have increased from 6.691 billion US dollars in 1990 to 105.88 billion US dollars in 2004, with an annual increase rate of 20%. At present, ASEAN has become the fourth biggest trading partner of China.

Starting from July 20, China has implemented the conventional tariffs of the China-ASEAN free-trade areas on goods from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Singapore and Thailand. The Customs has worked out special measures to ensure that the "conventional-tariff" products pass the customhouse rapidly.

By People's Daily Online

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中国东盟自由贸易区降税计划启动 平均税率8.1%


NEWS.SOHU.COM 　　2005年07月20日02:25　　第一财经日报


　　我国对东盟部分国家平均关税税率为8.1%，比最惠国平均税率水平9.9%低1.8个百分点

　　从今天开始，按照中国与东盟签署的《中国-东盟全面经济合作框架协议货物贸易协议》(下称“协议”)的时间表，对原产于中国和东盟的产品相互给予优惠关税待遇。

　　据悉，中国对文莱、印度尼西亚、马来西亚、缅甸、新加坡、泰国等6个国家实施中国-东盟自由贸易区协定税率(含现行对6国实施的“早期收获”商品协定税率)。2005年7月20日后，我国对上述各国平均关税税率为8.1%，与最惠国平均税率水平9.9%相比低1.8个百分点。

　　但是，关税互惠的背后，除了更大的机遇之外，也给商业活动提出更多的规范要求。中国-东盟商务理事会副秘书长许宁宁因此表示：“要想在‘掘金’东南亚的路上少花‘路费’，中国企业有十大困难，应注意解决。”

　　中国企业：缺乏长期战略计划

　　首先，很多中国企业不了解中国-东盟自由贸易区规则，面对自贸区建设带来的新变化没有应对方案。许宁宁向记者解释，东盟进入区域经济一体化角色比中国提前10年，而“中国-东盟自由贸易区”的概念出现后，不少中国企业缺乏足够的准备。

　　其次，缺乏开发东盟市场的意识和长期战略计划也是一个很重要的问题。许宁宁认为，这一问题导致两个后果：缺乏对东盟市场的可行性分析，盲目投资；缺乏东盟国家商务渠道，选错商务合作伙伴。据中国-东盟理事会资料，有中国投资者在柬埔寨至少买断了5万公顷土地，拥有10~99年不等的使用权，但到目前实际开发面积不到1%。

　　针对问题，许宁宁给中国企业“支招”：企业应尽快了解《协议》内容，面对自贸区建设带来的新变化提出应对方案，制订东盟市场长远开发战略。

　　东盟国家投资环境有待改善

　　从东盟10国的实际情况看，大多缺乏规范的市场机制，政策连续性不强，加之税收体系不够完善，市场风险较大。中国企业与东盟国家经贸合作发展过程中，存在较大的风险和制约因素。

　　比如有中国外交官指出，越南的政策透明度不够，在3年多的时间里，对摩托车散装进口和国产化的管理，主管部门改变了34次。而中国熊猫家用电器产业集团亚/非洲区销售经理张栋18日说：“很难说《协议》马上就能给东盟带来蹲拭骋谆肪澈艽蟾纳疲サゾ陀霉ぶ贫日庖坏闵希秃苋萌送诽邸！?/P>

　　许宁宁将来自东盟方面的状况，归纳为两个主要问题，其一，东盟有些国家不透明、不稳定的投资环境；其二，东盟有些国家的贸易、投资壁垒。他举例说，越南《外国在越南投资法实施细则》规定，矿产勘探、开发和深加工项目属于鼓励投资领域，但中方投资该领域时的审批程序复杂、周期长，矿源得不到保障，无法正常生产。

　　再比如泰国，因为泰国不是WTO《政府采购协定》的签署国，在政府采购招标中，泰国对外国投标企业设置一系列限制，使中国企业无法投标或难以中标。

　　中国-东盟贸易合作前景

　　不过，许宁宁表示，就官方而言，“中国与东盟双方应积极实施，创造透明、自由、便利的地区贸易、投资机制和环境。与此同时，双方应加快CAFTA的投资协议和服务贸易协议的谈判，使其早日得到签署，这是我们增进合作、共同发展的现实选择，也是CAFTA得以全面建成的客观要求。”

　　据中国-东盟理事会提供的资料，今年上半年，中国与东盟双方贸易总值597.6亿美元，增长25%。近12年来东盟连续为中国的第五大贸易伙伴。今年上半年东盟则跃为中国第四大贸易伙伴。

　　今年4月份中国国家主席胡锦涛在应邀访问东南亚时曾表示：“随着中国-东盟自由贸易区建设的不断推进，我们完全有信心在2010年前实现中国和东盟年贸易额达到2000亿美元的目标。”而东盟秘书长王景荣日前在接受新华社记者专访时说，东盟和中国联合进行的可行性研究表明，自贸区的建立，将创造一个拥有17亿消费者的经济区域，其国内生产总值约2万亿美元，贸易总额估计为1.23万亿美元。本报记者赵杰发自北京

　　中国企业投资东盟十大难题

　　一 不了解中国-东盟自由贸易区相关规则

　　二 缺乏开发东盟市场的意识和长期战略计划

　　三 缺乏东盟国家商务渠道，选错东盟商务合作伙伴

　　四 企业同类产品在东盟市场竞相压价，恶性竞争

　　五 不法企业将假冒违例产品出口到东盟市场

　　六 缺乏对东盟市场的可行性分析，盲目投资

　　七 不能入乡随俗，简单照搬本企业文化和在国内的市场营销经验

　　八 遭遇东盟有些国家不透明、不稳定的投资环境

　　九 遭遇东盟有些国家的贸易、投资壁垒。

　　十 缺乏东南亚市场开发优秀人才

　　

转自搜狐搜狗(www.sogou.com)搜索:“降税”,共找到 8,315 个相关网页.


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Article 34



Money

National Semiconductor to close Toa Payoh plant

Fiona Chan
445 words
15 July 2005
Straits Times
English
(c) 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Cost-cutting move, a reversal of earlier plans, will result in a loss of 950 jobs

IN A reversal of earlier plans, United States-based National Semiconductor said yesterday that it will after all close its only chip assembly plant here - a cost-cutting move that will axe 950 jobs.

The company, which makes chips used in electronic devices such as mobile phones and iPods, is closing the Toa Payoh plant here after failing to receive satisfactory bids since putting it up for sale in March.

At that time, the company had given the assurance that the chip-testing and assembly plant would not be shut down even if a suitable buyer could not be found.

But human resource director Tan Tee Huat said yesterday that National Semiconductor had 'reviewed several offers, but none came close to the company's expectations'.

He added: 'At that point of time when the sale announcement was made, the focus was to get a good sale.

'Since the offer did not meet our expectations, the decision is to close (the plant).'

The plant's focus on digital chip production may have been a factor in its closure, as National Semiconductor has been moving towards more profitable analogue chips and was selling assets and businesses that were not in line with this.

The plant closure comes on the heels of other electronics companies moving jobs out of Singapore to lower-cost countries such as China.

In March, hard-disk manufacturer Maxtor announced that it would cut up to 5,500 jobs here.

The shutdown, which will take place over the next 15 months, is estimated to cost National Semiconductor $27 million to $30 million this quarter.

Cost savings from the move are expected to reach up to $6 million a quarter.

Most of the equipment used in the plant will be transferred to the company's other assembly and test plants in Malaysia and China.

Employees here are being offered severance packages of one month's pay for every year of service.

The company is also working with the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Ministry of Manpower to find new jobs.

An upbeat director of the EDB's electronics division, Mr Lim Swee Nian, noted: 'There are currently 14 wafer fabrication facilities, 19 assembly and test operations and over 40 IC design centres in Singapore and we are also aware of several new expansion plans within this industry in the next few months.

'Given the vibrancy and buzz of activities, we are confident there is a strong demand for skilled talent in this industry.'

fiochan@sph.com.sg

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Article 7


Energy-hungry China and energy-wasting Indonesia

Natalia Soebagjo , Shanghai
1,193 words
15 July 2005
The Jakarta Post
6
English
(c) 2005 The Jakarta Post

Less than one week before his departure, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has postponed -- maybe even canceled -- his state visits to China, Thailand and Brunei. The fuel crisis is keeping him home and wisely so because fuel crises have in the past few years always been a politically hot issue.

Indonesia is faced with fuel supply problems due to increased domestic demand and rising global oil prices, with a dose of mismanagement added in as well. But Indonesia is not alone. Other countries in the region are facing the same problem also, especially China.

The major difference between Indonesia and China is that China's government is not strapped for cash and when the central government announces a policy, whether they like it or not, local governments have to follow accordingly, and likewise the people.

So tourists wanting to enjoy the spectacular night view of the Bund or the glittering downtown shopping area of East Nanjing Road in Shanghai would be disappointed as the lights have been dimmed and are switched off earlier. Tiananmen Square in Beijing is also not as bright as it used to be and the same is happening elsewhere in China.

This summer especially has been extremely hot with the mercury rising to 39 degrees Celsius. As a result, energy consumption has increased as people switch on their air-conditioners to fight the sweltering heat. In the meantime, industries continue to churn away, keeping the economy sizzling.

In Shanghai alone, electricity usage over the summer is expected to increase by over 12 percent to 19 million kilowatts and, determined not to let its citizens suffer from any total blackouts, the municipal government has taken various measures to manage energy usage more efficiently. These measures include ordering larger companies to shift production to off-peak hours and increasing the prices of peak level electricity usage to encourage them to do so; warning all industrial enterprises that they may face electricity rationing from now until the end of August so they can readjust or rearrange work shifts accordingly.

The government also told government buildings, malls, offices, hotels and entertainment venues to curb consumption. The general public has also been asked to use energy-saving lights, fans instead of air-conditioners and washing machines with timers.

Shanghai, one of the most vibrant economic centers in China, is also the biggest consumer of energy. It feeds its demand by building new power plants and by buying power from other regions. Shanghai began overhauling and building new power plants in its suburbs in 2003 so that by 2008 these plants will have a combined capacity of 28.3 million kilowatts. It is also going to receive five million kilowatts in power supplies from the East China Grid and the State Grid, plus a commitment for an additional four million kilowatts. In short, the government has anticipated the shortage and taken the relevant steps to address it.

At the national level, Premier Wen Jiabao recently launched an energy-saving campaign ordering government offices to keep air-conditioners no colder than 26 degrees Celsius, to switch air-conditioners and lights off when leaving the office, to use lifts less often, use energy-saving lightbulbs and to come to work wearing ordinary shirts without a jacket and tie, except when there are important official activities. A central circular was issued and local governments followed suit.

But such campaigns are just a small part of a bigger strategy to meet its energy demands. Analysts expect that in 20 years' time, China is going to consume nearly 13 million barrels of oil a day, or about 10 percent of the global total. A lot of it will be imported oil. Therefore, short-term energy saving campaigns, no matter how helpful, will not be enough.

Ever since he came to power, President Hu Jintao has been traveling the world -- Latin America, Southeast and Central Asia, Africa and Russia -- in search of new oil and gas sources. China is now the world's third, if not second, largest oil importer.

Since the mid-1990s, the Chinese have also been buying oil reserves and pipelines, although many observers believe that the Chinese have spent too much on assets that are not top quality or are in too remote areas. China's top three oil companies -- PetroChina, Sinopec and CNOOC -- have holdings in as many as 44 countries around the globe, including in Sudan and Myanmar. CNOOC's latest controversial bid for Unocal of the U.S. is another sign of China's intention to have a bigger stake in the energy sector, and they're willing to pay a premium for the opportunity. Still, despite all their efforts, the combined overseas reserves of China's oil giants are still small. Some estimates say they are only one tenth of the reserves of one big Western multinational such as BP.

Back home, the Chinese want to accelerate domestic oil exploration and production by investing billions of U.S. dollars in the industry. Its current domestic output is approximately 3.5 million barrels a day, just a little over a half of the 6.7 million barrels it needs. Much of this is from the Daqing oil field in Heilongjiang province but production there is decreasing.

Besides increasing supply to meet demand, China must also improve its inefficient use of energy. Compared to other countries, China does not use its energy efficiently. It uses 6.6 times more energy than Japan to produce the same unit of GDP. During July, for example, high-energy consuming industries such as cement producers and electroplating factories in Zhejiang province have had to temporarily stop or reduce production because the province is currently facing severe power shortages.

Another approach is to alter demand by changing consumption and use patterns. Hence, China is trying to attack the problem of its energy needs from all fronts because what is needed is not only a comprehensive and integrated energy policy, but also a policy that looks at the way China's overall natural resources and environment are managed. Not enough is being done to protect its environment and many believe that China's economic growth is being pumped up at the cost of the environment.

For a country accustomed to muddling through and working on a shoestring budget constrained by populist demands, political bargaining and the fickle fluctuations of the U.S. dollar, overcoming its fuel crisis and planning and implementing a long-term energy policy is not easy.

This is another area in which closer cooperation between China and Indonesia could be mutually beneficial, so we could learn from each other's experience.

A historian once said that the Chinese are a people with a millennia history of scarcity. In comparison we Indonesians have had a history abundance. Perhaps this explains why the Chinese are so determined to maximize what they have and we, on the other hand, tend to take for granted and squander what we have. But, as the saying goes, it's never too late to learn.

The writer works at the Center for Chinese Studies in Shanghai.

Document JKPOST0020050715e17f0000p


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Article 6


Indonesia and China dance through highs, lows

I. Wibowo , Jakarta
904 words
15 July 2005
The Jakarta Post
6
English
(c) 2005 The Jakarta Post

Indonesia-China relations reached a romantic level, both in a metaphoric and a real sense when President Megawati danced with President Jiang Zemin. It was back in March 2002.

But the relations went sour as an Indonesia-based company, despite the dance, lost to an Australia-based company in winning the tender to sell LNG to Guangdong, China. Unexpectedly, though, the graph has taken a new upturn, after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono assumed power in late 2004. Here are the highlights:

First, there was the visit of President Hu Jintao in April 2005 for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Asia-Africa Conference.

Then there was the signing of the "Strategic Partnership" document between Indonesia and China (April 25, 2005).

Financial aid from China to build infrastructure as well as the agriculture and energy sectors is reportedly as much as US$20 billion (April 25, 2005).

Shortly thereafter came an agreement between Indonesia and China to develop guided short, medium and long-range rockets (May 17, 2005).

New regulations that will allow tourists from China to get visas on arrival were also set up, a sharp departure from previous policy (June 15, 2005).

Vice Premier Wu Yi then visited Jakarta to confirm China's commitment to boosting trade with Indonesia (June 29, 2005)

Later this month, President Yudhoyono will visit China.

Evidently, Indonesia is entering a new stage in its relations with China, after the visit of then president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid several weeks after his election in October 1999. The "strategic partnership" signed in April 2005 shows how the two countries are trying not only to maintain diplomatic relations, but also are forging warm and friendly relations. They may have come to a new awareness that they are bound by a symbiotic tie.

More than before, Indonesia is becoming convinced of the importance and centrality of China's position. In the past 10 years, Indonesia has witnessed how China has established itself as a new economic giant that none can ignore. With its enormous economic power, China, now, could become a strong partner of Indonesia in economic and political terms. Indonesia cannot afford to adopt the attitude of distrust as displayed by Japan or the United States.

On the other hand, China cannot ignore Indonesia either, despite Indonesia's weaknesses. Indonesia still occupies a central role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In addition, Indonesia can provide raw materials, which China desperately needs, such as oil, LNG, timber, palm oil, etc. With an annual economic growth rate of 8 percent to 9 percent, there is no question that China needs a huge amount of natural resources, many of which Indonesia possesses.

The warming relations between Indonesia and China can, no doubt, have an affect on inter-ethnic relations within Indonesia. Though there is no direct causal link, the good relations between Indonesia and China will predictably bring a positive impact. In recent years and decades, the presence of the Chinese-Indonesian community was connected with a "threat from the North," at the ideological, economic and even cultural levels.

Some commentators have noted that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should have visited China on his recent tour to the United States and Japan -- two highly important countries. There is no explanation why there has been the delay; hopefully, it was only because the host was unable to change the tight schedule at the time. Last week, the President announced he would postpone his planned visit to China, Brunei and Thailand, which was scheduled for this week.

It must be noted, however, that Indonesia has to be able sail between the icebergs that are the international politics in East and Southeast Asia at present. At the moment, the United States, Japan, the European Union, India, even Russia, are very eager, even in competition, to have a degree of influence in this region.

China's entry as one of ASEAN's major partners and the warming relations with Indonesia, must have to do with China's strategic plan. China, as a big player, has a natural interest in not being left behind in gaining influence in Southeast Asia. After being squeezed in East Asia, actually, it is imperative for China to find good friends in this region.

This competition for influence has become even more apparent recently. Besides China, Japan also offers a strategic partnership under the name of "Partner for New Challenges," signed when President Susilo visited Japan last month.

The United States seems as if it is trying to win the hearts of Indonesia again by lifting the arms embargo. To the satisfaction of the military faction, Indonesia accepted it gladly.

Taking into consideration this map of competition, Indonesia should be smart enough to maintain a good distance with all the "players" in the field.

Too close of relations with any one player might jeopardize relations with other players. Yet, this does not mean that Indonesia has no principles at all. At the beginning of his presidency, Gus Dur put forward the idea of creating a triangular relationship between Jakarta, Beijing and New Delhi, but that plan vanished into thin air.

From the viewpoint of "geo-economics", which is currently in vogue, the idea now looks visionary and irresistible.

The writer is the chairman of the Center for Chinese Studies, Jakarta. He can be contacted at iww@indo.net.id

Document JKPOST0020050715e17f0000q


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