北京方面正加大努力獲得世界貿(mào)易組織的市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位(MES),，盡管國(guó)際社會(huì)批評(píng)中國(guó)放棄艱難經(jīng)濟(jì)改革的聲音越來(lái)越響亮。

從引導(dǎo)人民幣貶值到救助股市,，中國(guó)最近的舉動(dòng)令人擔(dān)憂它正從讓市場(chǎng)力量起到更大作用的努力倒退。但據(jù)了解相關(guān)討論的人士介紹,，中方并未因此氣餒,，而是再度發(fā)起努力，爭(zhēng)取獲得其垂涎的市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位,；近期中國(guó)將與四個(gè)最大的貿(mào)易伙伴分別舉行峰會(huì),。

中國(guó)加入世貿(mào)組織的協(xié)議有一條允許其他國(guó)家視其為非市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)。這項(xiàng)條款將在2016年12月到期,，潛在要求歐盟在今年底開始起草新的貿(mào)易立法,。

 “對(duì)中國(guó)來(lái)說(shuō)，市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位是一個(gè)關(guān)乎聲譽(yù)的問(wèn)題,，”一位駐北京的外交官表示,。“對(duì)我們來(lái)說(shuō)，這是一個(gè)需要作出的政治決定,。”

授予中國(guó)市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位,，將使在世貿(mào)組織反傾銷案件中成為目標(biāo)的中國(guó)企業(yè)更容易為自己辯護(hù)，這導(dǎo)致一些人警告此舉將給歐盟和美國(guó)帶來(lái)“災(zāi)難性后果”,。相關(guān)商談加緊之際,，中國(guó)國(guó)家主席習(xí)近平本周將啟程對(duì)美國(guó)展開首次國(guó)事訪問(wèn)，他還定于10月份訪問(wèn)英國(guó),。中國(guó)總理李克強(qiáng)本月底將在北京會(huì)晤歐盟高級(jí)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人，并將在今年晚些時(shí)候迎接德國(guó)總理安格拉?默克爾(Angela Merkel),。

雖然北京方面主張,，根據(jù)中國(guó)入世協(xié)議的條款，市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位應(yīng)當(dāng)在2016年12月自動(dòng)得到承認(rèn),，但其他貿(mào)易專家提出,，屆時(shí)該協(xié)議反而要求中國(guó)出口企業(yè)首先證明自己并未獲益于政府補(bǔ)貼和匯率政策。

 “我們肯定會(huì)在未來(lái)幾天和幾周聽到更多關(guān)于市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位的消息,，”一位簡(jiǎn)要介紹了中國(guó)與美國(guó)和歐盟貿(mào)易談判情況的人士表示,。“不過(guò)，如果美國(guó)承認(rèn)中國(guó)的市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位,，我會(huì)感到驚訝,，尤其是鑒于明年美國(guó)將舉行大選,。”

在眾多競(jìng)爭(zhēng)者角逐美國(guó)總統(tǒng)候選人提名的背景下，中國(guó)是一個(gè)現(xiàn)成的靶子,。根據(jù)歐洲一些商業(yè)組織委托撰寫的一份論文,，總部位于華盛頓的經(jīng)濟(jì)政策研究所(Economic Policy Institute)提出，市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位將導(dǎo)致中國(guó)出口激增,，可能使歐盟喪失多達(dá)160萬(wàn)個(gè)制造業(yè)工作崗位,。

 “中國(guó)大舉補(bǔ)貼多個(gè)行業(yè)，并利用匯率操縱來(lái)支持生產(chǎn)和出口,，使其積累了能夠以折扣價(jià)格出口的大量過(guò)剩產(chǎn)品,，”經(jīng)濟(jì)政策研究所的貿(mào)易研究總監(jiān)羅伯特斯科特(Robert Scott)表示。“承認(rèn)中國(guó)的市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位,，將損害這些產(chǎn)品在歐盟,、美國(guó)和其他國(guó)家的生產(chǎn)商，使它們暴露于中國(guó)廉價(jià)產(chǎn)品洪流的沖擊,。”（中國(guó)進(jìn)出口網(wǎng)）

Beijing is accelerating its push for World Trade Organisation market economy status (MES) despite growing international criticism that it has backed away from difficult economic reforms.  

China’s moves to devalue the renminbi and bail out its stock market, among other steps, have raised concerns that it is backtracking from efforts to give a freer reign to market forces. Undeterred, the renewed drive for the coveted MES comes ahead of upcoming summit meetings with four of its largest trading partners, according to people familiar with the discussions. 

A provision in China’s WTO accession agreement that allows other countries to treat it as a non-market economy will expire in December 2016, potentially requiring the EU to begin drafting new trade legislation by the end of this year. 

“For China, market economy status is a matter of prestige,” said one Beijing-based diplomat. “For us, it’s a political decision to take.”

Granting Beijing MES would make it easier for Chinese companies targeted in WTO anti-dumping cases to defend themselves, leading some to warn of “disastrous consequences” for the EU and US. The ramping up of talks comes as President Xi Jinping leaves this week for his first official state visit to the US and is scheduled to visit the UK in October. Premier Li Keqiang will meet senior EU leaders in Beijing at the end of the month and also host German Chancellor Angela Merkel later in the year. 

While Beijing argues that MES should be extended automatically in December 2016 under the terms of its WTO accession agreement, other trade experts argue that the agreement instead requires Chinese exporters to prove first that they do not benefit from government subsidies and currency policy. 

“We will definitely hear more about MES in coming days and weeks,” said one person briefed on China’s US and EU trade talks. “But I would be surprised if the US would grant it to China, especially with next year’s presidential election.”

Beijing is an easy target for candidates in the crowded US presidential election field. In a paper commissioned by European business organisations, the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute argued that MES status would lead to a surge in Chinese exports, eliminating up to 1.6m manufacturing jobs in the EU. 

“China has extensively subsidised a range of industries and used currency manipulation to support production and exports, allowing it to accumulate widespread gluts of goods that it can export at discount prices,” said Robert Scott, EPI’s trade research director. “Granting market economy status to China would harm producers of these goods in the EU, US and other countries by exposing them to a flood of cheap Chinese products.”