知情人士透露，中国正准备展开一项贸易调查，内容是美国政府是否向本国汽车制造商发放不公平补贴。
上月美国对中国轮胎征收关税之后，中美两国贸易紧张关系加剧。不少人士曾警告说，美国的举措可能引起北京报复。
美国出口到中国的汽车数量很少，但中国方面的最新动作将具有象征意义，表明中国扳回了一局。
美国劳工团体一直以来都指责中国向本国出口商提供不公平补贴。然而，通过“反补贴税”调查，中国将评估相同指控是否也适用于美国。调查可能导致中国对美方征收进口关税。
据美国汽车贸易政策委员会(American Automotive Policy Council)的数据，美国每年约向中国出口3万辆汽车，其中“美国三大”——通用汽车、克莱斯勒和福特约占7000至9000辆。
通用汽车(General Motors)和克莱斯勒(Chrysler)共接受了约600亿美元的政府援助资金，而福特(Ford)则没有得到任何援助。
此外，华盛顿还向本国及外国的一些汽车制造商（以及配件供应商）提供了大量援助，鼓励它们投资于“绿色科技”。
中方已通报美国，称收到了一份要求展开调查的请求。知情人士表示，调查可能将于下周三正式启动。在此之前，两国将进行磋商。美国高级政府官员本周已经在华进行贸易谈判，美国总统巴拉克•奥巴马(Barack Obama)还将于下月访华。
根据世界贸易组织(WTO)的规定，中国在开始调查之前，需邀请美国就“反补贴税”进行磋商，以求达成相关解决方案。
美国汽车贸易政策委员会（美国三大汽车厂商的行业协会）主席斯蒂芬•科林斯(Stephen Collins)表示，他周二被告知有关调查的事情。“我昨天接到了美国政府打来的电话，要我立即安排三家公司开会，”他表示。
此外，中国还收到了一份反倾销的调查要求，内容是美国是否以不公平低价销售出口汽车。
译者/岱嵩
CHINA TO INVESTIGATE US CAR SUBSIDIES
China is preparing to launch a trade investigation into whether US carmakers are being unfairly subsidised by the US government, according to people familiar with the matter.
The move comes at a time of heightened trade tensions between the two countries after the US imposed duties on Chinese tyres last month. Many warned this would prompt Beijing to retaliate.
Few vehicles are actually exported from the US to China, but the move would have symbolic power by turning the tables on Washington.
US labour groups have long accused Beijing of unfairly subsidising its exporters. However, through a “countervailing duties” investigation, China would assess whether the US was open to the same charge. The investigation could lead to import duties.
The US exports about 30,000 vehicles to China, according to the American Automotive Policy Council, of which the Big Three – GM, Chrysler and Ford – account for 7,000 to 9,000.
General Motors and Chrysler have received about $60bn in government bail-out funds, though Ford has received nothing.
Washington has also provided substantial aid to US and foreign carmakers, as well as parts suppliers, to encourage investment in “green” technology.
China has already told the US that it has received a petition for an investigation, which people familiar with the matter said it would formally launch on Wednesday. Before that, the two countries will negotiate. Top US government officials are already in China for trade talks this week, and Barack Obama, US president, is due to visit the country next month.
World Trade Organisation rules require China to invite the US to consult on the countervailing duty petition before initiating any investigation in an effort to find a resolution to the concerns.
Stephen Collins, president of the American Automotive Policy Council – the trade council for the Big Three – said he was told about the investigation on Tuesday. “The US government called me yesterday and asked me to arrange a meeting of the three companies immediately,” he said.
China has received an anti-dumping petition as well, which asks for investigation into whether US car exports are being sold at unfairly low pries.
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