09-04-07

中国：美国、墨西哥向世贸投诉出于政治目的 (China: US, Mexican Complaint to WTO Politically Motivated)

中国表示，美国和墨西哥就中国对企业退税向世界贸易组织提出申诉是基于国内政治需要。中国商务部星期二在其网站上说，对中国的指称是基于对中国的“巨大误解”。中国商务部表示，美国和墨西哥在试图利用世贸组织的争端解决机制促使中国改变税收法律。

美国和墨西哥表示，中国向中国企业退税以及免税同时阻拦外国产品进口的做法违反了世界贸易组织的规则。世贸组织星期五成立了一个小组，调查有关投诉。

美国经常抱怨中国在减少数千亿美元对美贸易顺差方面没有做出足够努力。

China says domestic politics motivated the United States and Mexico when they filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization about Chinese tax breaks. China's Commerce Ministry said on its Web site Tuesday that the allegations were based on "huge misunderstandings." The ministry said Mexico and the U.S. are trying to use the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism to push for change in China's tax laws.

The U.S. and Mexico say China has violated WTO rules by giving tax breaks and exemptions to Chinese businesses, while discouraging imports of foreign products. The WTO set up a panel Friday to investigate the charges.

The United States frequently complains that China is not doing enough to reduce its multi-billion-dollar trade surplus with the U.S.

中国：明年以前猪肉价格将居高不下 (China: Pork Prices to Remain High Until Next Year)

一位中国官员说，消费者在未来18个月仍会看到猪肉价格居高不下，直到新的健康生猪供应进入市场。

中国国家发展和改革委员会副主任毕井泉星期二说，尽管政府已经鼓励农户多养猪，但是生猪长大到可以生仔和供市场消费需要时间。

自爆发可以令猪致命的蓝耳病以来，猪肉供应减少。政府为了控制蓝耳病疫情，宰杀了至少100万头猪。

昂贵的饲料价格也使得猪肉成本上涨。猪肉是中国人的一种主要肉食。肉价上涨也促使了中国的通货膨胀率达到多年来的最高。

A Chinese official says consumers can expect high pork prices for the next 18 months, until fresh supplies of healthy pigs arrive at the market.

The vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, Bi Jingquan, said Tuesday that although the government has encouraged farmers to raise more pigs, it still takes time for the animals to grow large enough for breeding and for the market.

Pork supplies have dwindled since an outbreak of blue ear disease, a virus that can be deadly in pigs. The government has killed at least a million pigs in an effort to control the disease.

High grain prices also have helped to drive up the cost of pork, a staple in the Chinese diet. The prices have contributed to China's highest inflation rate in years.