09-14-07

中国谋求在世贸与美国谈判贸易纠纷 (China Seeks WTO Talks with US on Trade Dispute)

中国寻求在世贸组织和美国举行会谈，解决华盛顿对来自中国的某些纸张进口进行惩罚引起的争议。中国贸易官员说，他们星期五在世贸组织的所在地日内瓦向美国方面递交了磋商请求。这个请求是对华盛顿决定对光泽纸进口征收反倾销惩罚的回应。光泽纸是用于印刷艺术书刊、教科书以及高级杂志的纸张。

与中国进行竞争的美国生产商争辩说，中国政府不公正的补贴帮助中国生产商用低于市场价格出售他们的纸张。依据世贸组织条例，双方在世贸组织仲裁人员介入之前，有60天的时间通过双边会谈解决分歧。

China is seeking talks with the United States at the World Trade Organization in a dispute over penalties Washington has imposed on some paper imports from China. Chinese trade officials say they delivered the request for consultations to U.S. officials Friday in Geneva, where the WTO is based.

The request is a response to a decision by Washington to impose anti-dumping penalties on the import of glossy paper, which is used in art-books, textbooks and high-end magazines.

U.S. manufacturers who compete with China argue that unfair government subsidies are helping Chinese producers sell the paper at below-market prices. According to WTO regulations, the two sides will have 60 days to resolve the dispute through bilateral talks before WTO arbitrators step in.

日本角逐首相人选减至麻生和福田 (Japan's Race for Prime Minister Narrows to Aso, Fukuda)

在日本首相安倍晋三本星期突然宣布辞职以后，日本继任安倍晋三的角逐已经缩小到在两位候选人之间进行。前内阁官房长官福田康夫星期五宣布有意在9月23号举行的政党选举中角逐自民党总裁。

福田康夫宣布参加角逐后，福田康夫赢得了宣布退出竞选的主管财政的大藏省大臣额贺福志郎的支持。

几个小时后，前外相麻生太郎也加入到自民党总裁的竞争行列。他目前担任自民党干事长。

自民党总裁竞争的胜利者将担任日本下任首相，因为自民党在富有权力的日本国会众议院拥有多数席位。

福田康夫被视为主张与中国和韩国发展良好关系，而麻生太郎以保守观点著称，有时让日本的邻国感到愤怒。

Japan's race to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has narrowed to a two-way contest, following the abrupt resignation of Japan's leader this week. Yasuo Fukuda, a former chief Cabinet secretary, announced Friday that he intends to run for president of the Liberal Democratic Party during party elections on September 23rd.

Shortly after declaring his candidacy, Fukuda won the backing of the finance minister Fukushiro Nukaga, who withdrew his own bid.

Hours later, former Foreign Minister Taro Aso joined the race to lead the LDP. He is secretary-general of the party.

The winner of the LDP leadership race is set to become Japan's next prime minister because the party holds a majority in the powerful lower house.

Fukuda is seen as an advocate of warm relations with China and South Korea, while Aso is known for his conservative views that have sometimes riled Japan's neighbors.