细节来了！详解中国在WTO起诉印度电动汽车及电池补贴措施
近期，中国在世贸组织（WTO）起诉印度电动汽车及电池补贴措施。当地时间20日，WTO发布信息显示，中方已经在15日致函印度代表团，就其关于汽车贸易的措施和可再生能源技术领域提出磋商请求，并已经将该函在WTO分发给各成员。中方在信函中表示，印度涉案措施包括为促进印度生产先进化学电池、汽车及汽车零部件以及电动汽车提供激励措施。中国认为，这些措施取决于使用国内而非进口的投入品，或对中国产品构成歧视，并且与《补贴与反补贴措施协定》《与贸易有关的投资措施协定》以及1994年《关税与贸易总协定》的各项规定相抵触。15日，中国商务部新闻发言人表示，印方相关措施涉嫌违反国民待遇等多项义务，并构成WTO明令禁止的进口替代补贴。这些措施给予印方本国产业不公平的竞争优势，损害了中方利益。中方将采取坚决措施，切实维护国内产业合法权益。印方相关措施涉嫌违反国民待遇等多项义务
第一财经记者看到，中方在文件中详细列出了印方的相关政策和措施。首先，在涉及印度方面支持的某些影响汽车和可再生能源技术领域贸易的措施方面，诸如与生产挂钩的激励措施，即印度国家先进化学电池（ACC）储能计划（下称“PLI ACC计划”）等。该计划旨在鼓励在印度建立千兆级ACC电池生产设施，并着重于实现国内附加值最大化。ACC电池是指新一代储能技术，将电能以电化学能或化学能的形式储存，并在需要时将其转换回电能。这类电池对于电动汽车和可再生能源储能系统等应用至关重要。该文件表示，印度力求通过PLI ACC计划减少对进口的依赖，促进国内增值，并在规定的时间内支持高性能、高质量的电池技术的发展。其次，汽车及汽车零部件行业生产挂钩激励计划（PLI汽车计划）。该计划旨在促进先进汽车技术（AAT）产品的国内生产，包括整车和零部件。第三，印度电动乘用车制造促进计划（以下称“电动汽车乘用车计划”）。电动汽车乘用车计划旨在吸引全球电动汽车制造商的投资，并将印度打造为电动汽车制造目的地。上述文件显示，这三个项目都是为了推进印度于2014年首次提出的“印度制造”计划。该计划的主要目标是吸引来自全球各地的投资，并加强印度的制造业，以期改变印度的工业格局，并塑造印度作为全球制造业中心的地位。在此背景下，印度在上述三个计划下提供的激励措施均以符合某些要求为条件，包括国内增值（DVA）要求。这些要求还似乎将激励资格和奖励金额与使用国内原产投入挂钩。以电动汽车乘用车计划为例，该计划于2024年3月通过，旨在吸引全球电动汽车制造业投资，并通过提供有限且有条件地进口全组装电动四轮车的关税减免，支持在印度建立电动四轮车生产设施。具体而言，该计划允许获批的申请人以15%的减免关税税率进口整车，自批准之日起最长五年。电动汽车的最低成本、保险和运费价格必须达到35000美元才有资格获得该计划。每个受益方的年度配额上限为80000辆，未使用的配额可以结转。获批的申请人必须在获批后三年内在印度建立制造工厂。对于在印度制造的车辆，该计划规定DVA里程碑为第三年至少达到25%，第五年至少达到50%。具体而言，DVA定义为在国内进行的制造活动的比例，计算公式为从产品的出厂价中扣除所有进口零部件和材料的总价值。敦促印方立即纠正错误做法
此次，中方表示，保留在磋商过程中以及今后根据《争端解决谅解备忘录》第6.2条提出设立专家组的请求中，提出与争议事项相关的补充事实、措施和主张的权利，包括根据适用协定的其他规定提出补充事实、措施和主张的权利。中方还表示，期待收到印度的答复，并商定一个双方都方便的磋商日期。磋商请求通常意味着正式在WTO提起争端。磋商使双方有机会讨论问题并找到令人满意的解决方案，而无须进一步提起诉讼。60天后，如果协商仍未能解决争议，投诉方可以请求专家组裁决。根据规定，专家组程序包含5个阶段：专家组的建立、专家组的工作程序、专家组的资料获取权、专家组的中期报告评审程序、专家组最终报告的通过程序等。此前，中国商务部新闻发言人对此表示，中方注意到，一段时间以来，印度多项经贸措施涉嫌违规，已引发世贸成员广泛关注。“我们敦促印方恪守其在WTO有关承诺，立即纠正错误做法。”中国商务部新闻发言人表示。
译文：
The details have arrived! Detailed explanation of China's lawsuit against India for electric vehicle and battery subsidy measures at the WTO
Recently, China filed a lawsuit against India at the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding subsidies for electric vehicles and batteries. On the 20th local time, the WTO released information showing that China had sent a letter to the Indian delegation on the 15th, requesting consultations on its measures on automobile trade and renewable energy technology, and had already distributed the letter to all members of the WTO. The Chinese side stated in the letter that India's measures involved in the case include providing incentives to promote the production of advanced chemical batteries, automobiles and automotive parts, and electric vehicles in India. China believes that these measures depend on the use of domestic rather than imported inputs, or constitute discrimination against Chinese products, and are in conflict with the provisions of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, the Agreement on Trade Related Investment Measures, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade of 1994. On the 15th, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that the measures taken by India are suspected of violating multiple obligations such as national treatment, and constitute import substitution subsidies that are explicitly prohibited by the WTO. These measures give India an unfair competitive advantage in its domestic industry and harm China's interests. China will take resolute measures to effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of domestic industries. The measures taken by the Indian side are suspected of violating multiple obligations such as national treatment
The first financial reporter saw that the Chinese side detailed the relevant policies and measures of the Indian side in the document. Firstly, in terms of measures that affect trade in the automotive and renewable energy technology sectors supported by the Indian side, such as incentive measures linked to production, namely the National Advanced Chemical Battery (ACC) Energy Storage Program (PLI ACC Program) in India. The plan aims to encourage the establishment of gigabit ACC battery production facilities in India, with a focus on maximizing domestic added value. ACC battery refers to a new generation of energy storage technology that stores electrical energy in the form of electrochemical or chemical energy and converts it back into electrical energy when needed. These types of batteries are crucial for applications such as electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. The document states that India aims to reduce its dependence on imports through the PLI ACC program, promote domestic value-added, and support the development of high-performance and high-quality battery technology within the specified time frame. Secondly, the Production Linked Incentive Program for the Automotive and Automotive Parts Industry (PLI Automotive Program). The plan aims to promote the domestic production of advanced automotive technology (AAT) products, including complete vehicles and components. Thirdly, the Indian Electric Passenger Vehicle Manufacturing Promotion Program (hereinafter referred to as the "Electric Passenger Vehicle Program"). The electric vehicle passenger car program aims to attract investment from global electric vehicle manufacturers and establish India as a destination for electric vehicle manufacturing. The above documents show that all three projects are aimed at advancing India's "Make in India" plan, which was first proposed in 2014. The main objective of this plan is to attract investment from around the world and strengthen India's manufacturing industry, with the aim of changing India's industrial landscape and shaping its position as a global manufacturing hub. In this context, the incentive measures provided by India under the three aforementioned plans are conditional on meeting certain requirements, including Domestic Value Added (DVA) requirements. These requirements also seem to link incentive eligibility and reward amounts to the use of domestically sourced inputs. Taking the electric vehicle passenger car program as an example, the program was passed in March 2024 with the aim of attracting global investment in electric vehicle manufacturing and supporting the establishment of electric four-wheel vehicle production facilities in India by providing limited and conditional tariff reductions for imported fully assembled electric four-wheel vehicles. Specifically, the plan allows approved applicants to import complete vehicles at a reduced tariff rate of 15% for a maximum of five years from the date of approval. The minimum cost, insurance, and shipping price for electric vehicles must reach $35000 to qualify for the program. The annual quota limit for each beneficiary is 80000 vehicles, and unused quotas can be carried forward. The approved applicant must establish a manufacturing plant in India within three years after approval. For vehicles manufactured in India, the plan stipulates that the DVA milestone should be at least 25% in the third year and at least 50% in the fifth year. Specifically, DVA is defined as the proportion of manufacturing activities conducted domestically, calculated by deducting the total value of all imported components and materials from the factory price of the product. Urge the Indian side to immediately correct its erroneous practices
This time, the Chinese side stated that it reserves the right to propose supplementary facts, measures, and claims related to the disputed matters during the consultation process and in future requests to establish an expert group in accordance with Article 6.2 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Dispute Resolution, including the right to propose supplementary facts, measures, and claims in accordance with other provisions of the applicable agreement. The Chinese side also stated that they look forward to receiving India's response and agreeing on a mutually convenient date for negotiations. Consultation requests usually mean formally initiating a dispute in the WTO. Negotiation provides both parties with an opportunity to discuss issues and find satisfactory solutions without the need for further litigation. After 60 days, if the dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation, the complainant may request a panel of experts to make a ruling. According to regulations, the expert group program consists of five stages: establishment of the expert group, work procedures of the expert group, data acquisition rights of the expert group, mid-term report review procedures of the expert group, and final report approval procedures of the expert group. Previously, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that China has noticed that India's multiple economic and trade measures have been suspected of violating regulations for some time, which has attracted widespread attention from WTO members. We urge the Indian side to abide by its WTO commitments and immediately correct its erroneous practices. ”The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated.