美國農業部擔心中國打壓高粱進口

The surging US sorghum trade with China could face a clampdown from authorities in Beijing, who are trying to reduce domestic grain inventories, US agricultural officials have warned.

美國農業部官員警告說，急劇增長的美國對華高粱貿易可能會面臨試圖中國當局的打壓。中國當局正在努力降低國內的穀物庫存。

The Chinese government had “begun to pay close attention to the rapid increase in sorghum imports, and some policy makers reportedly believe these imports make it harder for the government to dispose of its large corn stocks”, according to the latest China grains report from the Beijing bureau of the US Department of Agriculture.

根據美國農業部(Department of Agriculture)駐北京機構的最新中國穀物報告，中國政府已“開始密切關注高粱進口的快速增加。據報道，部分政策制定者認爲，這類進口令中國政府更加難以消除其龐大的玉米庫存”。

China’s sorghum imports jumped in the year to September 2014, increasing more than sixfold to 4.2m tonnes from the previous year and are forecast to double to 8.5m tonnes in the 12 months to 2015, with the bulk of the commodity coming from the US.

在截止2014年9月的一年內，中國高粱進口大幅增加，同比增長逾6倍，達到420萬噸。預計到2015年9月，高粱進口量會增加一倍達到850萬噸，其中大多數將來自美國。

The report from Beijing warned that the numbers could change due to stricter testing of sorghum shipments.

這一報告警告說，如果對高粱運輸量使用更嚴格的檢測方法，上述數字可能會有變化。

“Import officials have recently begun to enhance inspections, and traders are voicing concern that the government may be getting ready to take more concerted action to limit imports,” it said.

該報告表示：“最近，主管進口的官員已開始加強監管，各交易商也在談及這樣的擔憂：中國政府可能正準備以更加步調一致的舉措限制進口。”

News of the USDA warning was first reported by .

有關美國農業部這一警告的新聞，首先是由網站報道的。

The surge in demand for sorghum comes as the Chinese government’s grain purchases under its agricultural support programme have pushed up domestic prices for corn.

對高粱需求的激增，是由於中國政府依照農業支持計劃推行的穀物收購，令中國國內的玉米價格大幅提升。

Feed mills have been importing cheaper alternatives, including sorghum and barley, which are also not subject to official import quotas.

爲此，中國飼料廠一直在進口高粱和大麥等廉價替代品。大麥也是一種不受官方進口配額限制的農產品。