歐洲兩輪車零售商協會(ETRA)針對進口越南自行車傾銷法案提出嚴重抗議

回應歐盟委員會發佈反傾銷稅法案文件, ETRA針對自越南進口自行車部份已提出嚴重抗議.

在ETRA觀點, 認為歐盟委員會十分不公平, 將進口中國大陸與越南自行車合併累計課徵反傾銷稅, 此提案結論明顯地將進口越南自行車列為傾銷的.

根據歐盟條款, 評估累進稅額在競爭進口國與歐盟的商品間必需要適度考慮的. ETRA對該委員會指出, 這並不是中國大陸與越南進口問題, 而是歐盟較難與其相互競爭.

委員會本身發現中國大陸的自行車主要在大量銷售的管道, 再者, 委員會確定歐盟法案文件抽樣挑選出在歐盟的製造商與中國大陸主要都在相同銷售管道上競爭. 歐盟自越南進口的自行車是十分大量地透過專賣批發商銷售, 他們最關心的不是在越南製造的品牌,也不是為歐盟在越南代工之品牌的自行車.

ETRA同時指出越南進口採分開計稅, 已讓委員會發現由越南進口的自行車大幅度增加中, 而導致歐盟製造廠商 Raleigh關閉其英國生產工廠. 在2003年, 超過43% 由越南進口至歐盟都銷售到英國. 與2002年比較, 歐盟進口數量提高為645,296輛自行車. 英國統計超過75%的成長, 因為英國自越南進口自行車已從103,431輛成長到591,588輛.

在法案中, 委員會決議有關越南自行車的進口商與零售商將不會實質地被反傾銷稅則影響到, “因為標價合理的自行車仍會在這市場上”. ETRA 反駁這項說法並指出零售商的興趣不只包括在標價合理的自行車上, 且也同時要像越南公司提供的品牌與品質.

在適用反傾銷稅法將導致由越南進口到歐盟產品有意想不到的衰退且同時在競爭上產生限制, 在這些國家中, 進口有品牌與代工品牌的自行車均無法在短時間彌補這種衰退. 進口商不能就這樣將代工轉包遷移到其他地方, 批發商無法立即從一個品牌轉換到另一品牌, 總之, 在IBD (independent bicycle dealer) 方面的工作是穩定消費者所要面臨的報價限制, 高單價與價格範圍相關方面.

針對進口中國大陸自行車法案, 歐盟委員會同意相關提案新建議為五年期間內48.5%的稅額. 無論如何, ETRA 強調此法案處境因為欠缺監督而將失敗抵銷傾銷目的. 該協會因而確信新的法案需要他們嚴格地監督才能提供預期的功效.

*本資料由European Two Wheel Retailers’ Association (ETRA)提供, 參考其網站www.etra-eu.com.    2005/6/22

中文由國際行銷部編輯

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ETRA strongly objects to envisaged measures against Vietnamese bicycle imports In response to the Commission’s General Disclosure Document, ETRA has lodged a strong protest against the measures that will be proposed against bicycle imports from Vietnam.

In ETRA’s view it was unjust for the Commission to assess Chinese and Vietnamese bicycle imports cumulatively. It is precisely that assessment that has allowed the Commission to conclude that the bicycle import from Vietnam is being dumped.

According to the Basic Regulation, cumulative assessment must be appropriate in light of the conditions of competition between imported products and the conditions of competition between the imported and the Community product. ETRA has pointed out to the Commission that this is not the case for Chinese and Vietnamese imports which, in the European Union, are hardly in competition with each other.

The Commission itself has found that Chinese bicycles are mainly sold in high volume sales channels. Moreover, the Commission confirmed in the General Disclosure Document that the sampled Community producers mainly compete in the same sales channels. The bicycles imported from Vietnam into the European Union however are to a very large degree sold by

specialist dealers. It mainly concerns bicycles which are either branded by the Vietnamese producers themselves or branded bicycles which the Vietnamese companies produce as subcontractors for Community companies.

ETRA also pointed out that a separate assessment of the Vietnamese import would have allowed the Commission to find that the strong increase of bicycles imported from Vietnam was to a large extent the result of Community producer Raleigh closing down their UK production facilities. In 2003, over 43% of the Vietnamese import into the EU was sold to

the UK. Compared to 2002, the EU import rose with 645,296 bicycles. The UK accounted for more than 75% of that increase, since the British import of Vietnamese bicycles grew from 103,431 to 591,588 units.

In the General Disclosure Document, the Commission concludes that importers and retailers will not be substantially affected by anti-dumping duties against Vietnamese bicycles since “fairly priced bicycles will still be available in the market”. ETRA refuted this claim by indicatin that the interest of retailers in this matter does not only involve “fairly priced bicycles” but also the brand and the quality as supplied by the Vietnamese companies.

If the application of anti-dumping duties should result in a sudden decline of Vietnamese imports into the EU, that may well result in a restriction of competition. In those countries, which import branded and private label bikes, such a decline cannot be compensated at short notice. Importers

cannot move from one subcontractor to another just like that. Dealers cannot switch from one brand to another that easily. As a result, a number of jobs in the IBD-sector will be in the balance whereas consumers will be confronted with a restricted offer, higher prices and less choice with regard to price range.

As for the envisaged measures against Chinese bicycle imports, ETRA applauds the Commission intention to propose 48.5% duty for a new period of 5 years. With that however, ETRA stresses that the measures in place have failed to offset dumping because of the lack of surveillance.

The association therefore believes that the new measures can only have the desired effect provided that they are properly policed.