貿易戰如何給美國抗疫帶來災害
文章來源: 笨狼2020-04-14 06:53:43
冠疫蔓延到全世界之後,冷靜思考就知道此時全球化、合作其實是最好的對策(對此美國很多人士也這麽呼籲,參見:閱讀指南:冠疫之後的中美關係),最近的一個觀點是《大西洋月刊》的川黑David Frum的【11】,以及【18】,但是很多美國人,包括對中國政府不再寄望的(美國)華裔,覺得中國政府沒有任何值得信賴的,結果大家得到的結論反而是全球化正是造成自己處於困境的主要原因,因為全球化最顯著的結果是形成對中國的依賴。自己能幹也好,不能幹也好,都不是問題,問題是一直依賴中國。
 
彼此之間的不信賴,不僅僅是美中,或美國對中國,而是到處都是,如【《歐盟經濟政策中心》【5】的一篇論文說三大經濟體,美國歐盟和中國都兼職出口:
 
 
論文承認中國沒有限製出口的政策,但實際上限製,但這搞錯了。
 
歐盟不吃素【6】:
 
三月底的習特通(話)後,美國美中開始降溫,美國也開始從中國進口物資,雖然呼吸機中國產能不高,美歐還在打架【10】,但中國還是往美國運了不少,其他物資口罩防護服很多,歐盟也一樣,連美國的反華幫凶小弟加拿大,被美國禁運後,這幾天透漏出來說也從中國入貨【12】。本來中國的“口罩外交”很成功,近幾天被廣州當局急於“外防輸入、內防反彈”,懼怕一尊震怒,大肆虐待非洲籍駐外人士,結果竹籃打水一場空。
 
華姐的攻勢有用嗎?
加油前不忘損人一句
 
 
美國現在開始盤算如何把醫療物資產業鏈移回本國,這可以理解,但需要幾年時間,而且需要征稅(千億吧,也不算多了),肯定不是能解燃眉之急的。可有時你恨一個人恨急了,據《紐時》報道【14】,從中國進口不減關稅則自己折磨自己,減了,又怕中國乘機占便宜,也就是說,寧願自己吃大虧,也不願意中國占小便宜。
 
這種寧願自己大虧,也不願意中國占小便宜的心態最能體現的就是消毒液,美國有消毒液,但沒有瓶子,需要從中國進口,據《彭博》【1】揭露,廠家Purell(大家熟悉了)申請免關稅,但政府拒絕了【注1】。
 
這些都是小意思了,美國和歐盟(注意了,不是中國)的出口禁運不僅僅威脅到全世界,也威脅了自己【10,8,17】,這是全世界目前麵臨的最大的問題。
 
US export restrictions on medical supplies leave Canada, Mexico, and other Latin American countries vulnerable
 
美國這種“寧願自己吃大虧,不願中國占小便宜”,受害的首先是美國人民【2】。《彼得森國際經濟研究所Peterson Institute for International Economics》Chad Bown對美中貿易和關稅一直跟蹤,按他的分析,今天美國物資短缺,主要因素之一是關稅。下麵列舉一下他的看法【3,4,7,,8,9】。
 
In 2018, health experts warned Trump. Putting tariffs on medical products would hurt US preparedness for pandemics. He did it anyway
 
“These products are essential to protecting healthcare providers and their patients"
“products on the proposed list are used widely throughout healthcare settings and are a critical component of our nation's response to public health emergencies”
~ Matt Rowan, August 2018  2/
 
“Finding alternative sources of supply for these products to minimize the cost impact of the duties is not a viable option in the near or medium term."
  The FDA process ensures things work and are safe.
“This process can take more than two years.”
~ Lara Simmons, June 2019 4/
 
the Trump administration has imposed new taxes on almost $5 billion of medical exports from China, totaling about 26% of US health-care imports
 
中國是美國醫療物資的主要供給國,關稅一上,大家馬上沒熱情了:
 
Figure 1 The trade war resulted in fewer American purchases of critical medical products from China in 2019
 
US imports of masks, respirators, and gloves from China fell when Trump's Section 301 tariffs went into effect in 2019
 
而且,中國企業受打,把出口轉向他國,尤其是歐洲,結果中國與歐洲的合約限製了當今中國給美國提供物資的能力,可以說如果不是政府民間把“救美國就是救中國”放在首位,美國拿不到那麽多東西。
 
 
Chad Bown說“中國醫療物資出口是全球抗疫中的希望之光”【7】,聽起來優點肉麻,但那出自一個美國專家之口。他說的,“Just as you don’t want to be too dependent on China, you don’t want to be too dependent on yourself. You have now walled yourself off from the only way you can potentially deal with this, in your time of greatest need, which is relying on the rest of the world.”,全世界那個國家都該想想。
 
 
【注】
【1】據說這個關稅前幾天剛剛取消。《華爾街日報》有一篇相應的報道,美國因此無法,或被迫減少進口的物資很多,而且直接進口和廠家為醫院生產的,至今還得承受20%的關稅,這是些例子:
Glutaraldehyde, which Lubrizol Corp. needs to make disinfectant effective at killing coronavirus
Viscose Rayon Fibers, which Berry Global Group (Benson, NC) needs to make sanitary wipes
Face Splash Guards, which HLP Clear Packaging Products needs to make eyes-nose-mouth coverings
Anesthesia Machines, which Mindray (NJ) needs because they have built-in ventilators
 
GM steps in to help fight COVID-19. Remember, GM makes cars
GM agrees to learn to make VENTILATORS - a complex machine to aid the human respiratory system
March 31: GM learns Trump still has 25% trade war tariffs on ventilator PARTS
 
【相關】
冠疫文章
 
【資料】
(未加注明的文章出自《彼得森國際經濟研究所Peterson Institute for International Economics》)
After scuttling its partnership with Beijing on public health, the U.S. was unprepared for the pandemic
【10】《彭博》U.S., EU Are Far Apart on Reshoring Making of Medical Gear
工信部說中國隻有20%的呼吸機產能,大頭在歐美,但歐美還在打架
【11】《大西洋月刊》The Coronavirus Is Demonstrating the Value of Globalization
We are experiencing a painful introduction to anti-globalism and its consequences
Diplomats, consultants create a made-for-Canada solution to get critical supplies from China
【13】《大西洋月刊》Why We’re Running Out of Masks
The United States’ secretive medical stockpile was prepped for a bombing, not a pandemic