The European Commission has ducked the opportunity to decide whether to grant China “market economy” status . A conclusion is not expected until the second half of this year.

欧盟委员会(European Commission)搁置了决定是否给予中国“市场经济”地位的机会，预计要到今年下半年才会作出定夺。

Giving China market economy status at the World Trade Organisation would make it harder for tariffs to be levied on Chinese industries. Critics say they already benefit from unfair state subsidies.

在世界贸易组织(WTO)给予中国市场经济地位，将加大对中国工业品征收关税的难度。批评人士称，中国的制成品受益于不公平的国家补贴。

The commission’s recommendation, which had been expected this week, is highly anticipated by European industry, national governments and Washington. The discussion has fed into a broader debate about whether the west should take a tougher line on Chinese trade practices or court Beijing for investment.

该委员会的提案（本来预计在本周提出）受到了欧洲工业界、各国政府以及华盛顿方面的高度期待。欧盟委员会的讨论已演变成一场更宽泛的辩论，即西方应该对中国的贸易政策采取更强硬立场，还是迎合北京以获得投资。

Commissioners debated the issue on Wednesday but did not come to a decision, according to Frans Timmermans, first vice-president of the commission.

欧盟委员会第一副主席弗兰斯舠默曼斯(Frans Timmermans，见图)表示，委员们周三辩论了这一问题，但没有作出决定。

“We had a discussion on the subject this morning, but will come back to it later because the president [of the European Commission] concluded that this issue has to be looked at from all important angles given the subject’s [importance] for international trade and also for the EU’s economy,” he said.

他说：“我们今天上午讨论了这一议题，但还会进行讨论，因为鉴于其对国际贸易以及欧盟经济的（重要性），（欧盟委员会）主席认为这一问题必须从各个重要角度得到评估。”

Broadly speaking, Europe’s heavy industries are opposed to the proposal, particularly steel and textile makers, who complain that unfair Chinese competition is forcing them to slash jobs in Europe.

大体上说，欧洲的重工业部门反对给予中国市场经济地位，尤其是那些抱怨中国的不公平竞争正迫使它们在欧洲大幅裁减工作岗位的钢铁和纺织品生产商。

But Angela Merkel, German chancellor, said she was “in principle, positive” to China’s position. The UK has also been supportive of Beijing.

但德国总理安格拉默克尔(Angela Merkel)表示，她在原则上支持给予中国这一地位。英国也一直支持北京。

The Chinese government has stated that its WTO accession agreement means that it will automatically be granted “market economy” status by the end of 2016. Opponents say the agreement is not so clear-cut. Brussels must decide this year whether to support or oppose this plan.

中国政府称，根据入世协定，中国最迟将在2016年底自动获得“市场经济”地位。反对者认为，该协定并非如此简单。布鲁塞尔今年必须对支持还是反对做出决定。

Any decision taken by the Commission would have to be backed by member states. Some are wary about allowing China to compete with domestic industries.

欧盟委员会通过的任何决定都必须得到成员国的一致支持。有些国家不放心让中国与本国工业进行竞争。