毛里求斯：消除贸易障碍

毛里求斯：消除贸易障碍

文I本刊特约撰稿  利蒂希亚·梅里多尔（Laetitia Melidor） 毛里求斯卫士传媒集团记者

    翻译 | 王晓波   

编辑 | 杨海霞 

导读：

毛里求斯与中国的关系正处在极其关键的时刻。事实上，作为印度洋小岛国的毛里求斯和世界第二大经济强国的中国的贸易和双边伙伴关系正在取得迅猛发展。

即将签署的自贸协议

毛里求斯外交部长卢切米纳赖杜非常自豪地说，“我们正在敲定中国与毛里求斯之间的自由贸易协议，这是中国与非洲国家签署的第一个此类协议。”
他进一步解释说，“毛里求斯完全支持中国国家主席习近平对非洲大陆和国际社会做出的判断。我们愿意成为非洲与世界之间的桥梁。我们已经成为非洲大陆自由贸易区的签约国，并且与东南非共同市场和南部非洲发展共同体等组织签署了协议。现在我们正在与中国和印度就建立自由贸易网络进行协商，明年1月就可以正式签署自贸协议了。”
自由贸易协议签署后，中国企业不仅可以从优惠准入规则中获益，而且还能利用毛里求斯作为进入非洲大陆市场的门户和产业增值的中心。另一方面，自贸协议将使毛里求斯的生产商们在更优惠的条件下向中国市场销售更多的产品。
毛里求斯在中国的公司对于自贸协议将带给他们的发展机遇充满信心，因为一位生活在上海的毛里求斯企业家艾伦·马蒂厄已经用其亲身经历证明了这一点。马蒂厄在上海注册了他的约尔贸易有限公司，专门从事向世界各地出口中国商品，并把毛里求斯手工制作的朗姆酒进口到中国市场销售——这种700毫升的瓶装酒非常具有毛里求斯的风格。
自由贸易协议的签署能够使贸易便利化得到更快实现，从而促进贸易、服务和投资方面的互利共赢。对毛里求斯来说，这意味着其本土产品将更有竞争力地出口到中国市场。所以说，这项协议的签署对两国双边关系具有里程碑的意义。
在两国良好的贸易关系基础上，通过签署这项新的自由贸易协议，双方的贸易往来必将得到更加蓬勃的发展。仅在2017年，中国对毛里求斯的出口就达到了7.62亿美元，从毛里求斯向中国的出口也有2800万美元，贸易往来是双向的。去年中国向毛里求斯出口的主要商品包括起重机、铝和纤维织物；而毛里求斯出口到中国的商品则以冷冻鱼和纺织品为主：
2017年毛里求斯从中国进口的主要商品：                         
1. 蜂窝式移动电话  2.运输领域所需的门式和桥式起重机  3.便携式数字计算机  4.彩色平纹棉织物  5.接收和转换设备，用于声音和图像及其他数据的传输和恢复，包括配电和路由

贸易潜力

中国和毛里求斯之间继续增进交流和合作有着巨大的机会和潜力，这是毛里求斯对此极为重视的原因。根据毛里求斯外交部官员提供的信息，毛里求斯具有向中国市场出口数亿美元商品的可能性。他们说，“毛里求斯有能力向中国出口更多的经过加工的钻石、鱼饲料、糖料、朗姆酒、葡萄酒、服装、啤酒等许多商品，而且像毛里求斯茶叶这类的商品已经出现在中国的商店了。”前面提到的那位在上海做生意的毛里求斯商人艾伦·马蒂厄说，“在我正式在中国做生意前，我请一些中国朋友品尝了毛里求斯的‘朗姆酒’，他们非常喜欢，马上决定进口这种混合了水果的朗姆酒。”
艾伦·马蒂厄补充说，“现在我的商品在好几个线上购物平台都有销售，在家乐福、7-11便利店和联合利华超市也都有卖。”
一些有趣的现象可以证明毛里求斯的商品的确在中国市场具有销售潜力：比方说，中国对钻石的需要正在加大；鱼丸是毛里求斯向中国出口的第二大重要产品，自2013年以来，中国对其的需要一直在稳步增长，每年的平均增幅在6%左右。
现在，中国每年从世界各地进口的鱼丸总价值是22亿美元，其中只有600万美元的鱼丸是毛里求斯提供的，秘鲁是中国最大的进口商。由此不难看出，增加这一商品向中国的出口有着很大空间。毛里求斯外交部的官员认为，“中国绝对是毛里求斯进行贸易活动的有利市场，但是，与任何国家一样，也需要面对一些挑战，关键在于我们应当怎样把握住机遇。”

消除贸易障碍

我们在中国市场面临的主要挑战是其对糖等产品征收的关税壁垒。这里有必要解释的是，根据其对世界贸易组织（WTO）做出的承诺，中国每年应当按照15%的进口税率进口约200万吨（准确的配额数是194万吨）的糖。超出这一配额数的部分会被加征更高的关税，并且需要提供许可证。不过，在新的自由贸易协议签署后，这一障碍就可以消除了。
但艾伦·马蒂厄也指出了毛里求斯商人在中国经商时遇到的一些现实挑战：“第一个挑战是语言障碍，因为不是每一个中国人都能讲英语。第二，中国太大了，有时各省之间执行的规定会不一样。而且我特别要强调的是，在中国，银行的资金汇兑对外商来说也是件比较繁杂的事。”
毛里求斯政府已经制定了一项政策，即政府、经济发展委员会和私营部门在经过市场调研后，联合起来抓住一切开发中国市场的机会。现在市场调研已经展开，同时毛里求斯也加大了对贸易和投资的宣传力度。
毛里求斯的外交部长强调说，“即将签署的自由贸易协议不仅会为货物和服务提供新机遇，还有利于两国在投资和经济领域的合作更加规范。因此从这个意义上讲，国家战略和声势浩大的宣传都是必不可少的。”而且事实上，中国的商品也可以通过毛里求斯进入印度洋其他岛国市场。艾伦·马蒂厄介绍说，“现在有许多毛里求斯的商人去广州、佛山、义乌等地采购商品，然后不仅将它们运回毛里求斯销售，也会运到留尼旺岛、科摩罗、马约特岛、马达加斯加、罗德里格斯岛以及一些其他非洲国家进行销售。与此同时，越来越多的中国人前往毛里求斯不只是为了度假，也是为了做生意。他们将毛里求斯作为通往非洲的入口，因为毛里求斯的政局稳定，金融交易也非常安全。”
为了确保这个自由贸易协议能够切实可行，两国政府间需要定期派代表进行对话，使协议涉及的各项议程尽快展开并早日步入正轨。

英文版：

We stand at a crucial crossroad for the Mauritius-China relationship. Indeed, the trade and bilateral partnership of the small Indian Ocean island nation Mauritius and  mighty China, the second world economic power, is gaining momentum. “ We are finalizing the free trade agreement between China and Mauritius this agreement is the first of its kind that China signs with an African country, ” underscores with pride the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Mauritius, Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo.
“Mauritius fully supports the decisions of global importance taken by China and president Xi Jinping and the decisions concerning the African continent. We want to be the bridge between the world and Africa. We are already signatory of the African Continent Free Trade Area and we have agreements with African organisations like COMESA and SADC. Now, we are establishing our network of free trade with China and India with which a free-trade agreement will also be signed in coming January.”
As a matter of fact, through this free-trade agreement,  Chinese companies will be able to derive benefits from preferential access while using Mauritius as a gateway as well as a value-added center to regional markets on the African continent. On the other side, the free trade agreement will also allow Mauritian producers to sell more products on the Chinese market under more favorable conditions. Mauritian companies based in China already feel confident of the future development of their businesses at the dawn of the establishment of this agreement as testifies Allan Mathieu, a Mauritian entrepreneur living in Shanghai. “Registered in China, my company; Shanghai Yoal Trade Co Ltd, specializes  in the export of Chinese goods worldwide and  the importation of the Mauritian artisanal rum which is sold in China in these 700 ml bottles customized in the Mauritian style.
With the signing of the free-trade agreement, trade facilitation is on a good path and will foster mutual benefits in terms of trade, services and investment. For Mauritius, our local products will thus be more competitive to be exported to the Chinese market. The signing of this agreement is a milestone in our bilateral relationship.
If both countries always shared a good trade relationship, trade exchange is expected to thrive through this new free-trade agreement. Only in 2017, the China exports to Mauritius amounted to 762 millions USD while the Mauritian exports to China amounted to 28 million USD, making the whole trade system a two-way traffic between our two countries. Last year, the main products exported by China to Mauritius included cranes, aluminium and fabrics while Mauritius exported mostly frozen fish and textile products amongst others:
1. Telephone cellular; 2. Travelling, transportGantry, bridge crane; 3. Portable digital Computer;4. Coloured plain cotton weave, with >=85% cotton, >100g/m2; 5. Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing               
The opportunities for increased exchanges and partnership between China and Mauritius are enormous and this is why the stance and approach taken by Mauritius matter significantly. According to officials of the Mauritian foreign affairs ministry, matter of factly, the island can exploit a potential estimated to several hundreds of millions of US dollars in terms of export earnings in the Chinese market. “Mauritius has the capacity to export even more worked diamonds, pellets to feed fish, sugar, rum, wine, clothes, beer and the list goes on. It is to be noted that some products are already on the Chinese shelves like the Mauritian tea. “ Before launching my business, I had some Chinese friends tasting the Mauritian ‘rhum arrangé’  and they all liked the idea of importing the rum mixed with fruits.
 The sale of my products is done online via several platforms and also at Carrefour China, 7 eleven China and LianHua Supermarket holdings among others” adds Allan Mathieu.
The interesting part concerning the above mentioned potential markets for Mauritius  : there are sectors where the demand is growing in China. For instance, fish pellets are the second most important products that Mauritius exports to China with the Chinese demand for these granules rising steadily since 2013 with an average increase of 6% each year.
As at now, out of the total value of 2.2 billion USD granules that China imports from around the world, Mauritius provides for about 6 million USD; the first supplier being Peru. It is therefore clear, that there is an enormous potential for more exchanges in this area and in other sectors of trade for China and Mauritius. “China is definitely a friendly market for Mauritian trade activities. However, as with any countries, there are challenges but it’s upon us to know how to gain from the existing opportunities”, insists the official from the foreign affairs ministry of the Republic of Mauritius.
Our main challenge on the Chinese market is the tariff barriers imposed on some products like sugar.
However, with a brand new free-trade agreement, business should now be more easily done overcoming some practical challenges for businessmen: “The first challenge is the language barrier as not every Chinese business person is fluent in English. Secondly, China being a huge territory, the regulations sometimes vary from one province to another and I must highlight that bank transactions in China tend to be tedious for foreigners” explains Allan Mathieu.
A strategy has been set up so that all together; the government, Economic Development Board and private sector of Mauritius seize all the possible Chinese opportunities through market research. Thence, market research is being done and Mauritius has made it a point to increase its participation in marketing campaigns for trade and investment. “This free-trade agreement offers new business opportunities for goods, services and a regulated path to facilitate investment and economic cooperation. In this sense, a national strategy is imperative as well as vigorous promotional campaigns”, urges the Mauritian foreign affairs ministry. Matter of factly, Chinese products also goes  into the market of other Indian Ocean islands through Mauritius: “ many Mauritians go to Guangzhou, Foshan, Yiwu amongst others to purchase products and resell them not only in Mauritius but also in Reunion Island, Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, Rodrigues island and some African countries. On the other hand, more Chinese nationals are going to Mauritius not only for holidays but for business as well, by using Mauritius as a gateway to Africa, Mauritius offering a stable environment and financial platform” adds the Mauritian entrepreneur of Shanghai.
Meanwhile, this trade agreement being a solid and tangible initiative, the dialogue is therefore open between our two countries and it is expected that representatives of both Chinese and Mauritian authorities should meet on a regular basis for our trade agenda to get moving.

Mauritius to be the link between Africa and Asia

In line with it’s yesteryear’s vocation of being the star and key on the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is actually working on being the corridor connecting the African continent to the Asian continent. Back in 2015, the government of Mauritius has redesigned some aspects of the economy based on three pillars; the ocean economy, the regional Maritime Hub and the openness to Africa. Here, the integration with the region and with continental Africa is a fundamental element in this configuration. In this context, the Mauritian government urged the nation to have faith in the new African destiny and the state ocean of Mauritius, this being a new stage in our economic evolution. The island nation wants to expand its economic space on the African continent through government-to-government agreements and policy pathways such as joint commissions with partner countries to develop bilateral cooperation and also regional integration.
Mauritius is planning ambitious projects, including Special Economic Zones (SEZs), in countries such as Ghana, Cte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Kenya. These projects require significant international investments which can be mobilized in the financial center of Mauritius. It is to be noted that the Mauritian financial center has many assets in terms of governance, transparency, regulation, business facilitation and investment security to play this role of transmission of finance between the African continent and the rest of the world.  With the signing of the coming agreements with India and China, Mauritius can strengthen its strategic position in the Asia-Africa corridor in terms of trade and investment. Thanks to privileged access to African markets through Mauritius, Indian and Chinese companies will be able to set up operations in the island to serve the COMESA and SADC countries among others.