北京方面正加大努力獲得世界貿易組織的市場經濟地位(MES)，盡管國際社會批評中國放棄艱難經濟改革的聲音越來越響亮。

從引導人民幣貶值到救助股市，中國最近的舉動令人擔憂它正從讓市場力量起到更大作用的努力倒退。但據了解相關討論的人士介紹，中方并未因此氣餒，而是再度發起努力，爭取獲得其垂涎的市場經濟地位；近期中國將與四個最大的貿易伙伴分別舉行峰會。

中國加入世貿組織的協議有一條允許其他國家視其為非市場經濟。這項條款將在2016年12月到期，潛在要求歐盟在今年底開始起草新的貿易立法。

 “對中國來說，市場經濟地位是一個關乎聲譽的問題，”一位駐北京的外交官表示。“對我們來說，這是一個需要作出的政治決定。”

授予中國市場經濟地位，將使在世貿組織反傾銷案件中成為目標的中國企業更容易為自己辯護，這導致一些人警告此舉將給歐盟和美國帶來“災難性后果”。相關商談加緊之際，中國國家主席習近平本周將啟程對美國展開首次國事訪問，他還定于10月份訪問英國。中國總理李克強本月底將在北京會晤歐盟高級領導人，并將在今年晚些時候迎接德國總理安格拉?默克爾(Angela Merkel)。

雖然北京方面主張，根據中國入世協議的條款，市場經濟地位應當在2016年12月自動得到承認，但其他貿易專家提出，屆時該協議反而要求中國出口企業首先證明自己并未獲益于政府補貼和匯率政策。

 “我們肯定會在未來幾天和幾周聽到更多關于市場經濟地位的消息，”一位簡要介紹了中國與美國和歐盟貿易談判情況的人士表示。“不過，如果美國承認中國的市場經濟地位，我會感到驚訝，尤其是鑒于明年美國將舉行大選。”

在眾多競爭者角逐美國總統候選人提名的背景下，中國是一個現成的靶子。根據歐洲一些商業組織委托撰寫的一份論文，總部位于華盛頓的經濟政策研究所(Economic Policy Institute)提出，市場經濟地位將導致中國出口激增，可能使歐盟喪失多達160萬個制造業工作崗位。

 “中國大舉補貼多個行業，并利用匯率操縱來支持生產和出口，使其積累了能夠以折扣價格出口的大量過剩產品，”經濟政策研究所的貿易研究總監羅伯特斯科特(Robert Scott)表示。“承認中國的市場經濟地位，將損害這些產品在歐盟、美國和其他國家的生產商，使它們暴露于中國廉價產品洪流的沖擊。”（中國進出口網）

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.”