美歐懷疑中國金屬繞道越南再出口
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.
美國和歐洲針對中國鋼材出口不斷加大的政治壓力，把越南推到一場爭端的風口浪尖，這場爭端可能使圍繞國際貿易以及地區安全的緊張局勢擴大化。
Washington and Brussels are investigating alleged shipments of Chinese metals through Vietnam to avoid tariffs in western countries.
華盛頓和布魯塞爾正在調查有關中國金屬產品通過越南再出口，以逃避西方國家關稅的指控。
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.
這種不受歡迎的關注可能危及越南出口產品在西方市場享有的准入程度。它也可能使河內與北京方面發生衝突，目前越南領導人正在推動與美國加強防務合作，作爲抗衡中國的手段。
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.
美國和歐盟都希望遏制中國出口企業的金屬產品出口，因爲這些產品的價格使美歐本土企業無法競爭。西方鋁產品企業稱，中國的產品在越南再熔化，然後發運到美國。
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.
歐盟反欺詐辦公室(OLAF)表示，其正在調查有關中國企業通過越南再出口鋼材、以掩飾原產地和逃避歐洲關稅的指控。該機構拒絕提供進一步細節，僅表示它在與越南有關部門合作。
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.
據媒體報道，越南已證實它在配合歐盟的調查。越南政府沒有迴應記者的置評請求。
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年以來，越南對美國的鋼材出口量猛增十倍以上，而中國對越南的出口也有所上升。美國商務部(Department of Commerce)正在調查中國貿易公司是否向越南出口冷軋鋼，然後在越南對這種中間產品作進一步加工後出口。美方第二項調查的關注對象是耐蝕鋼的國際市場。
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.
隨着過剩金屬產品壓低國際價格，類似的指控一直困擾着中國鋁加工企業，特別是中國忠旺控股(China Zhongwang Holdings)。西方競爭對手指控忠旺通過越南再出口，以避免美國關稅，同時獲得中國的出口退稅。中國鋁產能過剩，因爲充足的水電和煤炭削減了生產這種金屬產品所需的能源成本。
Zhongwang said last week that it took US trade laws seriously and had already stopped making the products in question almost two years ago.
忠旺上週表示，它認真對待美國貿易法律，在近兩年前就已停止生產相關產品。
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.
中國佔世界鋼鐵和鋁產量的一半左右。儘管其金屬出口在美國和歐洲引起政治不滿，但其鋼廠和冶煉廠對礦石的需求幫助提振了總部位於美國、英國、巴西和澳大利亞的礦業公司的利潤。
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.
西方的調查使越南陷入棘手處境，該國正試圖在領土衝突中抗拒北京方面的要求，同時避免激怒其巨大鄰國，或在國內激起反華情緒。
The long-running dispute over the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea triggered anti-Chinese riots in 2014.
圍繞南中國海帕拉塞爾羣島（Paracel islands，中國稱西沙羣島）的長期爭端2014年曾在越南引發反華暴亂。
