中國忠旺被指逃避關稅 Chinese group accused over US export duties

An American trade association has brought a case against China Zhongwang Holdings, the Hong Kong-listed aluminium producer, alleging that it has evaded duties on exports to the US.

美國一個行業協會對在香港上市的鋁生產商中國忠旺控股(China Zhongwang Holdings)提出申訴，稱其逃避了對美國出口的關稅。

In a filing to the US Department of Commerce, the Aluminum Extruders Council alleges that the Chinese company “systematically and illegally” avoided payments by cutting and welding its aluminium extrusions into slabs so they would be classified as pallets — which are not subject to the same duties.

美國鋁擠壓材協會(Aluminum Extruders Council)在提交美國商務部(Department of Commerce)的申訴書中聲稱，這家中國公司“系統化和非法地”逃避交稅，採用的手段是把鋁擠壓材切割和焊接成鋁板，使其被列爲託板，不適用相同關稅。

It is bringing the case at a time when aluminium producers are increasingly under pressure, with prices for the lightweight metal trading at their lowest in six years, amid a global surplus. China produces about half of the world’s aluminium, which is used in the construction, transport, and automotive sectors.

該協會提出申訴之際，鋁生產商面臨着越來越大的壓力，在全球過剩的背景下，這種輕質金屬的價格跌至6年來最低位。中國生產全球約一半的鋁，用在建築、交通、汽車等行業。

The US Department of Commerce has 45 days from the date of filing to decide whether it will launch an investigation.

美國商務部自申訴之日起有45天決定會不會展開調查。

“Given the severity of this case to our domestic industry, we call on the Department of Commerce to investigate this case,” Jeff Henderson, director of operations at the AEC, said.

“鑑於本案對我們國內產業的嚴重性，我們呼籲商務部調查此案，”美國鋁擠壓材協會運營總監傑夫亨德森(Jeff Henderson)表示。

China Zhongwang said it exported and classified its products in accordance with government regulations and international trade rules, and maintained that its exports to the US were not covered by duties. “The report lacks basic knowledge of the industry,” it said.

忠旺控股表示，它按照政府法規和國際貿易規則出口和分類產品，該公司堅稱，它對美出口不適用關稅。“這份報告缺乏基本的行業知識，”忠旺表示。

China provides a VAT rebate for exports of aluminium extrusions that critics claim has been abused. They say it encourages the practice of simply melting the metal down outside the country, into simpler primary metal.

中國向出口鋁型材提供增值稅退稅，批評者稱該項政策遭到濫用。他們表示，這鼓勵了在國外熔回成原鋁的做法。

In July, an unknown group calling itself Dupré Analytics published a report alleging that China Zhongwang and its founder Liu Zhongtianhad routed exports through undisclosed related companies, to obtain tax rebates from the Chinese government.

今年7月，此前不爲人知的組織Dupré Analytics發佈一份報告，指控忠旺及其創始人劉忠田通過未披露的關聯公司出口，以便從中國政府獲得出口退稅。