????“每個(gè)產(chǎn)品的油漆都需要經(jīng)過(guò)三次檢驗(yàn),，第一次是檢驗(yàn)原材料，第二次是檢驗(yàn)成品,，然后客戶自己還會(huì)再進(jìn)行一次檢驗(yàn),，”楊春梅說(shuō)。培訓(xùn),、設(shè)備升級(jí),、采購(gòu)新材料和多項(xiàng)測(cè)試等方面的開(kāi)支已經(jīng)將企業(yè)的經(jīng)營(yíng)成本推高了10%到15%。
????政府統(tǒng)計(jì)數(shù)據(jù)為楊春梅的說(shuō)法提供了佐證,。2011年上半年,，中國(guó)玩具出口同比增長(zhǎng)了31.5％，這主要應(yīng)歸功于亞洲和拉丁美洲的需求拉動(dòng),。但中國(guó)玩具的出口值只增長(zhǎng)了11.54％,。
美國(guó)廉價(jià)玩具難以為繼
????盡管中國(guó)政府一直積極回應(yīng)美國(guó)新的安全要求,，但他們也認(rèn)為美國(guó)的反應(yīng)過(guò)度，在中國(guó)官員看來(lái),，這是美方為應(yīng)對(duì)國(guó)內(nèi)就業(yè)壓力而設(shè)置的一項(xiàng)技術(shù)貿(mào)易壁壘,。“每當(dāng)我們升級(jí)設(shè)備,，改善安全標(biāo)準(zhǔn),，并滿足了他們的要求之后，美國(guó)和歐盟就再次提高門(mén)檻,。生產(chǎn)成本不斷上升,，嚴(yán)重傷害了中國(guó)出口行業(yè)，”國(guó)家標(biāo)準(zhǔn)化管理委員會(huì)（China's Standardization Administration）副主任方向在接受中央人民廣播電臺(tái)（China National Radio）采訪時(shí)說(shuō),?！拔艺J(rèn)為這些貿(mào)易壁壘不會(huì)保護(hù)美國(guó)人的就業(yè)機(jī)會(huì)，反而會(huì)傷害美國(guó)消費(fèi)者的利益,?！?/p>
????雖然全球玩具制造商都受到美國(guó)規(guī)則的影響，但世界80%的玩具源自中國(guó),。中國(guó)目前有2萬(wàn)家玩具制造商,，雇傭了400多萬(wàn)名工人。
????中國(guó)市場(chǎng)研究集團(tuán)（China Market Research Group）（總部位于上海）項(xiàng)目運(yùn)營(yíng)經(jīng)理本杰明?卡文德?tīng)栒J(rèn)為,，中國(guó)玩具行業(yè)在來(lái)年有可能重新洗牌,。他說(shuō)：“資金雄厚的大型專(zhuān)業(yè)公司將開(kāi)始收購(gòu)其他步履維艱的公司?！?/p>
????定價(jià)壓力最終將擠壓美國(guó)零售商和玩具制造商的盈利空間,。“我們過(guò)去一直實(shí)行低價(jià)策略,，是因?yàn)榧觾r(jià)意味著失去客戶,，”楊春梅說(shuō)?！暗F(xiàn)在我們實(shí)在扛不住了,，要么提價(jià)，要么拒絕訂單,?！?/p>
????因此，從中國(guó)制造商那里采購(gòu)貨物的美國(guó)品牌將不得不減少自身的利潤(rùn),，以維持生產(chǎn),。盡管這有可能導(dǎo)致一些生產(chǎn)環(huán)節(jié)重返美國(guó)，但卡文德?tīng)枏?qiáng)調(diào)指出：“大部分制造環(huán)節(jié)十有八九還會(huì)留在中國(guó)或亞洲其他國(guó)家?！?/p>
????迄今為止,，美國(guó)消費(fèi)者一直受惠于價(jià)格低廉的中國(guó)玩具。玩具產(chǎn)業(yè)協(xié)會(huì)（the Toy Industry Association）的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,，過(guò)去幾年間,，玩具的平均價(jià)格一直保持相對(duì)穩(wěn)定，大約在8美元左右,。但幾乎沒(méi)有人相信這種局面將延續(xù)下去,。無(wú)論新法規(guī)是保護(hù)孩子的必要措施，還是反應(yīng)過(guò)度,，最終為此買(mǎi)單的將是美國(guó)消費(fèi)者,。
????譯者：任文科 |
|
|
????"For the paint on each product, we do three tests - a test on the raw materials, another on the finished product and then the client will conduct their own test," Yang says, adding that costs for training, equipment upgrades, sourcing new materials and multiple testing have added 10% to 15% to her operating costs.
????Government statistics support Yang's claims. In the first half of 2011, toy exports rose by 31.5% year-over-year, mostly driven by demand in Asia and Latin America. But their export value rose only 11.54%.
U.S. prices
????Even though the Chinese government has been responsive to the new U.S. safety requirements, they also see it as an overreaction and a technical trade barrier in response to pressure to create more jobs in America. "Each time after we upgrade and improve our safety standards and meet their requirements, the U.S. and EU raise the bar again. The cost keeps going up and seriously harms China's toy export business," said Fang Xiang, deputy director of China's Standardization Administration during an interview with China National Radio. "I don't think these trade barriers will save any American jobs. Instead, they'll hurt American consumers."
????Although the U.S. rules impact toymakers globally, more than 80% of the toys sold around the world come from China. At present, there are 20,000 toy manufacturers in China, employing more than four million people.
????Benjamin Cavender, associate principal at the Shanghai-based China Market Research Group believes this will lead to consolidation in China in the coming year. "Big professional companies with deeper pockets will start to buy up other companies as they falter," he says.
????The pricing pressures will eventually pinch the profits of U.S. retailers and toymakers. "In the past, we kept our prices low because any increase would mean losing the customers," Yang says. "But now, we really can't afford it. We have to raise prices or turn down our orders."
????As a consequence, U.S. brands that are sourcing from manufacturers in China will have to reduce their own margins in order to maintain production. While this will likely lead to some manufacturing returning to the U.S., Cavender emphasizes that "in all likelihood the bulk of manufacturing is still going to come out of China or other Asian countries."
????So far, Americans consumers have benefited from the low prices of Chinese toys. According to the Toy Industry Association, the average price of toys has remained relative steady over the past few years, at around $8. But few believe this will last. Whether the new regulations are necessary safeguards to protect children or an overreaction, American consumers will eventually have to bear the cost. |
