Nineteen technical service centers were formally established in
Beijing on Tuesday to analyze technical standards for market access
to foreign countries.
Wei Jianguo, vice minister of commerce, said the move was aimed
at assisting domestic firms respond rapidly to foreign technical
trade requirements. ?
With the development of free trade, traditional barriers such as
tariffs, quotas and licenses have given way to technical obstacles
which are often presented under the guise of environmental
protection or consumer health.
China's official statistics revealed that nearly two-thirds of
China's export-oriented companies had been affected by the
technical standards of foreign countries with their aggregated
economic losses estimated to be around US$20 billion.
"To defend the interests of domestic companies and to have a
bigger say in the world market we must be pro-active and not
reactive in taking steps to deal with foreign trade barriers," said
Zhang Xiangchen, director-general of the Dept. of World Trade
Organization (WTO) Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce.
Zhang said that every WTO member had the legitimate right to
question a new trade regulation of other nations within 60 days of
it being made public. However, lack of assistance from technical
experts and the complexities of standards often frustrated
companies and prevented them from taking effective action.
?
To remedy the situation, the Ministry of Commerce required the
first service centers to carefully track technical standards
development in global markets and issue regular reports for the
government and relevant industries.
As supporting institutions of the Ministry of Commerce, the
service centers are required to submit in-depth reports on the
impact of technical barriers on Chinese businesses, to evaluate the
country's current technologies and advise on the decision making
procedures of the governments.?
Professor Ma Dejun, vice president of the China Household
Electrical Appliances Research Institute, which has been designated
as such a service center, said companies like Haier and Lenovo,
excited by the new service, had offered to help in the compilation
of an export technology guide.
"Since our objective is to resolve the common problems faced by
industry, companies are very cooperative and ready to help," Ma
said.
Apart from the household electrical appliances sector, the first
service centers will also focus on technical standards related to
aquatic products, honey, food quality, fuel, leather, raw silk,
textiles, down clothing, porcelain, instruments and apparatus,
computers along with parts and accessories, toys and packaging.
Between 2006 and 2010, it's envisaged that 100 technical service
centers will be opened which should cover more than half the
country's exporters and more than 80 percent of China's export
markets. Each of the centers will be subject to regular inspection.
Those who fail inspections will have their licenses removed.
(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2006)