
? 一家保守派智庫發(fā)現(xiàn),,白宮本應(yīng)使用進口價格彈性進行計算,但實際使用的卻是零售價格彈性,。這一錯誤導致關(guān)稅計算結(jié)果比應(yīng)有水平高出了約四倍,。
白宮在計算近期關(guān)稅時所運用的公式存在偏差,這使得關(guān)稅稅率大致達到了原本應(yīng)有的四倍,。
保守派智庫美國企業(yè)研究所(AEI)的兩位學者發(fā)現(xiàn),,白宮在評估關(guān)稅政策引發(fā)的價格變動率時,運用了錯誤的數(shù)值,。該公式的正確應(yīng)用版本應(yīng)依據(jù)進口成本的價格變化,,即美國企業(yè)在從外國供應(yīng)商處采購商品時所面臨成本的變動情況,而白宮卻將零售價格(即消費者支付的價格)變化納入考量,。
據(jù)美國企業(yè)研究所稱,,這意味著該公式的偏差達到了四倍,因為白宮將進口價格彈性估算為0.25,,而實際數(shù)值應(yīng)為0.945。
美國企業(yè)研究所研究員之一斯坦·沃伊格(Stan Veuger)在接受《財富》雜志電話采訪時表示:“這實在是太不專業(yè)了,。對于如此重大的政策,,本應(yīng)展現(xiàn)出更高水準的專業(yè)性?!?/p>
沃伊格與其合著者凱文·科林斯(Kevin Corinth)認為,,正是由于使用了錯誤的數(shù)值,才導致原本的計算公式出現(xiàn)了偏差,。
科林斯和沃伊格寫道:“在我們看來,,政府所依賴的這一公式,無論是從經(jīng)濟理論層面審視,,還是置于貿(mào)易法框架內(nèi)考量,,均毫無依據(jù)可言,。倘若非要佯裝該公式是支撐美國貿(mào)易政策的合理基石,那么我們至少應(yīng)當期望白宮的相關(guān)官員在運用這一公式時能夠慎之又慎,?!?
美國企業(yè)研究所的另一位經(jīng)濟學家德里克·西瑟斯(Derek Scissors)更進一步指出,政府與其說是計算失誤,,不如說是蓄意篡改數(shù)據(jù)以達成他們期望的高關(guān)稅結(jié)果,。
西瑟斯周一在美國全國廣播公司財經(jīng)頻道(CNBC)上表示:“這一事件背后存在人為操縱的痕跡。這一系列操作本質(zhì)上是通過操縱數(shù)據(jù)來為高關(guān)稅政策提供所謂依據(jù)的手段,,究其根源,,是特朗普總統(tǒng)一心想要推行高關(guān)稅政策?!?/p>
在初始報告中,,科林斯和沃伊格表示,他們希望白宮方面能因其發(fā)現(xiàn)而下調(diào)關(guān)稅稅率,。他們寫道:“希望白宮方面能盡快糾正錯誤:由此帶來的貿(mào)易自由化將為經(jīng)濟提供迫切需要的推動力,,并且有望助力美國規(guī)避經(jīng)濟衰退風險?!?/p>
自美國總統(tǒng)唐納德·特朗普宣布實施新關(guān)稅制度以來,,短短三個交易日內(nèi),全球市場遭遇劇烈震蕩,。
白宮所采用的關(guān)稅計算方法已頗具爭議,,原因在于,顯而易見,,其所謂的“對等關(guān)稅”優(yōu)惠額度是基于一個簡單的公式得出的:將美國與某一外國的貿(mào)易逆差總額,,除以該國對美國的出口總額,再將所得結(jié)果除以二,,以此作為針對該國的關(guān)稅稅率,。
科林斯和斯坦·沃伊格表示,即便拋開當前所存在的計算錯誤不談,,該公式本身也備受質(zhì)疑,。他們寫道,這個公式“從經(jīng)濟原理層面來看,,根本站不住腳”,。“美國與某個特定國家的貿(mào)易逆差并非僅僅取決于關(guān)稅以及非關(guān)稅貿(mào)易壁壘這兩個因素,,還受到國際資本流動,、供應(yīng)鏈、比較優(yōu)勢,、地理位置等因素的影響,?!?/p>
鑒于特朗普政府所推行的關(guān)稅政策被冠以“對等關(guān)稅”之名,分析師與投資者原本預期,,這些關(guān)稅的制定會建立在對其他國家針對美國制造商品所設(shè)置的貿(mào)易及非貿(mào)易壁壘進行細致審查的基礎(chǔ)之上,。然而,這些關(guān)稅竟是依據(jù)一個公式來確定的,,據(jù)《華盛頓郵報》報道,,唐納德·特朗普總統(tǒng)親自堅持使用這個公式。
在沃伊格看來,,特朗普個人對關(guān)稅的看法是近期關(guān)稅政策出臺的主要原因,。
沃伊格說:“這項政策的背后推手,實則是特朗普自上世紀80年代以來便根深蒂固的貿(mào)易保護主義觀念,。他認為貿(mào)易逆差無異于損失,,而貿(mào)易順差則等同于盈利。他內(nèi)心深處對關(guān)稅政策情有獨鐘,。隨后,,其團隊會炮制出各種看似復雜、充斥著理論包裝的理由,,來為這些關(guān)稅政策開脫,。可歸根結(jié)底,,這一切不過是在巧立名目,、強行為之找借口罷了?!?
白宮方面聲稱,,在關(guān)稅相關(guān)計算中采用零售價格而非進口價格具備合理性。其理由是,,消費者在日常消費決策過程中,,更多是以零售價格而非批發(fā)價格為參考基準。一位白宮發(fā)言人進一步補充道,,在他們看來,,關(guān)稅稅率實際上本應(yīng)設(shè)定得更高。
科林斯和沃伊格指出,,美國貿(mào)易代表辦公室的一份備忘錄中引用了哈佛商學院教授阿爾貝托·卡瓦洛(Alberto Cavallo)關(guān)于關(guān)稅計算公式的研究成果。然而,,他們認為,,恰恰是這份引用,表明該公式在計算過程中對零售價格與進口價格之間的差異存在嚴重誤解,。他們寫道,,卡瓦洛的研究“明確了這兩者之間的區(qū)別”,。
卡瓦洛本人也談到了其研究成果被美國貿(mào)易代表辦公室的報告引用這一事實。
卡瓦洛上周在X平臺(原推特)上寫道:“美國貿(mào)易代表辦公室究竟是如何運用我們的研究結(jié)果的,,這一點并不完全清楚,。根據(jù)我們的研究,進口價格相對于關(guān)稅的彈性系數(shù)更趨近于1,。若在計算中采用這一數(shù)值,,而非白宮所使用的0.25,那么所推算出的對等關(guān)稅水平將大幅降低,,大致僅為現(xiàn)有結(jié)果的四分之一,。”
若采用這一版本的公式,,那么各國所面臨的關(guān)稅稅率將出現(xiàn)顯著下調(diào),。例如,柬埔寨49%的關(guān)稅稅率將降至13%,,越南的關(guān)稅稅率將從46%降至12.2%,。絕大多數(shù)國家最終都將適用白宮新政策里設(shè)定的10%這一最低關(guān)稅稅率。 (財富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
? 一家保守派智庫發(fā)現(xiàn),,白宮本應(yīng)使用進口價格彈性進行計算,,但實際使用的卻是零售價格彈性。這一錯誤導致關(guān)稅計算結(jié)果比應(yīng)有水平高出了約四倍,。
白宮在計算近期關(guān)稅時所運用的公式存在偏差,這使得關(guān)稅稅率大致達到了原本應(yīng)有的四倍,。
保守派智庫美國企業(yè)研究所(AEI)的兩位學者發(fā)現(xiàn),,白宮在評估關(guān)稅政策引發(fā)的價格變動率時,運用了錯誤的數(shù)值,。該公式的正確應(yīng)用版本應(yīng)依據(jù)進口成本的價格變化,,即美國企業(yè)在從外國供應(yīng)商處采購商品時所面臨成本的變動情況,而白宮卻將零售價格(即消費者支付的價格)變化納入考量,。
據(jù)美國企業(yè)研究所稱,,這意味著該公式的偏差達到了四倍,因為白宮將進口價格彈性估算為0.25,,而實際數(shù)值應(yīng)為0.945,。
美國企業(yè)研究所研究員之一斯坦·沃伊格(Stan Veuger)在接受《財富》雜志電話采訪時表示:“這實在是太不專業(yè)了。對于如此重大的政策,,本應(yīng)展現(xiàn)出更高水準的專業(yè)性,。”
沃伊格與其合著者凱文·科林斯(Kevin Corinth)認為,正是由于使用了錯誤的數(shù)值,,才導致原本的計算公式出現(xiàn)了偏差,。
科林斯和沃伊格寫道:“在我們看來,政府所依賴的這一公式,,無論是從經(jīng)濟理論層面審視,,還是置于貿(mào)易法框架內(nèi)考量,均毫無依據(jù)可言,。倘若非要佯裝該公式是支撐美國貿(mào)易政策的合理基石,,那么我們至少應(yīng)當期望白宮的相關(guān)官員在運用這一公式時能夠慎之又慎?!?
美國企業(yè)研究所的另一位經(jīng)濟學家德里克·西瑟斯(Derek Scissors)更進一步指出,,政府與其說是計算失誤,不如說是蓄意篡改數(shù)據(jù)以達成他們期望的高關(guān)稅結(jié)果,。
西瑟斯周一在美國全國廣播公司財經(jīng)頻道(CNBC)上表示:“這一事件背后存在人為操縱的痕跡,。這一系列操作本質(zhì)上是通過操縱數(shù)據(jù)來為高關(guān)稅政策提供所謂依據(jù)的手段,究其根源,,是特朗普總統(tǒng)一心想要推行高關(guān)稅政策,。”
在初始報告中,,科林斯和沃伊格表示,,他們希望白宮方面能因其發(fā)現(xiàn)而下調(diào)關(guān)稅稅率。他們寫道:“希望白宮方面能盡快糾正錯誤:由此帶來的貿(mào)易自由化將為經(jīng)濟提供迫切需要的推動力,,并且有望助力美國規(guī)避經(jīng)濟衰退風險,。”
自美國總統(tǒng)唐納德·特朗普宣布實施新關(guān)稅制度以來,,短短三個交易日內(nèi),,全球市場遭遇劇烈震蕩。
白宮所采用的關(guān)稅計算方法已頗具爭議,,原因在于,,顯而易見,其所謂的“對等關(guān)稅”優(yōu)惠額度是基于一個簡單的公式得出的:將美國與某一外國的貿(mào)易逆差總額,,除以該國對美國的出口總額,,再將所得結(jié)果除以二,以此作為針對該國的關(guān)稅稅率,。
科林斯和斯坦·沃伊格表示,,即便拋開當前所存在的計算錯誤不談,該公式本身也備受質(zhì)疑,。他們寫道,,這個公式“從經(jīng)濟原理層面來看,,根本站不住腳”,?!懊绹c某個特定國家的貿(mào)易逆差并非僅僅取決于關(guān)稅以及非關(guān)稅貿(mào)易壁壘這兩個因素,還受到國際資本流動,、供應(yīng)鏈,、比較優(yōu)勢、地理位置等因素的影響,?!?/p>
鑒于特朗普政府所推行的關(guān)稅政策被冠以“對等關(guān)稅”之名,分析師與投資者原本預期,,這些關(guān)稅的制定會建立在對其他國家針對美國制造商品所設(shè)置的貿(mào)易及非貿(mào)易壁壘進行細致審查的基礎(chǔ)之上,。然而,這些關(guān)稅竟是依據(jù)一個公式來確定的,,據(jù)《華盛頓郵報》報道,,唐納德·特朗普總統(tǒng)親自堅持使用這個公式。
在沃伊格看來,,特朗普個人對關(guān)稅的看法是近期關(guān)稅政策出臺的主要原因,。
沃伊格說:“這項政策的背后推手,實則是特朗普自上世紀80年代以來便根深蒂固的貿(mào)易保護主義觀念,。他認為貿(mào)易逆差無異于損失,,而貿(mào)易順差則等同于盈利。他內(nèi)心深處對關(guān)稅政策情有獨鐘,。隨后,,其團隊會炮制出各種看似復雜、充斥著理論包裝的理由,,來為這些關(guān)稅政策開脫,。可歸根結(jié)底,,這一切不過是在巧立名目,、強行為之找借口罷了?!?
白宮方面聲稱,,在關(guān)稅相關(guān)計算中采用零售價格而非進口價格具備合理性。其理由是,,消費者在日常消費決策過程中,更多是以零售價格而非批發(fā)價格為參考基準,。一位白宮發(fā)言人進一步補充道,,在他們看來,關(guān)稅稅率實際上本應(yīng)設(shè)定得更高。
科林斯和沃伊格指出,,美國貿(mào)易代表辦公室的一份備忘錄中引用了哈佛商學院教授阿爾貝托·卡瓦洛(Alberto Cavallo)關(guān)于關(guān)稅計算公式的研究成果,。然而,他們認為,,恰恰是這份引用,,表明該公式在計算過程中對零售價格與進口價格之間的差異存在嚴重誤解,。他們寫道,,卡瓦洛的研究“明確了這兩者之間的區(qū)別”。
卡瓦洛本人也談到了其研究成果被美國貿(mào)易代表辦公室的報告引用這一事實,。
卡瓦洛上周在X平臺(原推特)上寫道:“美國貿(mào)易代表辦公室究竟是如何運用我們的研究結(jié)果的,,這一點并不完全清楚。根據(jù)我們的研究,,進口價格相對于關(guān)稅的彈性系數(shù)更趨近于1,。若在計算中采用這一數(shù)值,而非白宮所使用的0.25,,那么所推算出的對等關(guān)稅水平將大幅降低,,大致僅為現(xiàn)有結(jié)果的四分之一?!?
若采用這一版本的公式,,那么各國所面臨的關(guān)稅稅率將出現(xiàn)顯著下調(diào)。例如,,柬埔寨49%的關(guān)稅稅率將降至13%,,越南的關(guān)稅稅率將從46%降至12.2%。絕大多數(shù)國家最終都將適用白宮新政策里設(shè)定的10%這一最低關(guān)稅稅率,。 (財富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
? A conservative think tank found the White House measured retail price elasticity when it should have used import price elasticity. That mistake meant the tariff outputs were about four times higher than they should have been.
The formula the White House used to calculate its recent tariff is based on an error that roughly quadrupled the rates from what they should have been.
Two scholars at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think tank, found the White House used the wrong value when assessing the rate at which prices would change as a result of tariffs. The correct version of the formula uses price changes in the cost of imports, meaning how much it costs a U.S. based company to buy a good from a foreign seller. Instead, the White House factored in the retail price change, which is what consumers pay.
That meant the formula was off by a factor of four, because the White House valued the elasticity of import prices at 0.25 when it should have been 0.945, according to AEI.
“It’s pretty bush league,” Stan Veuger, one of the AEI fellows, told Fortune in phone call. “For such a big policy you’d expect a much higher level of professionalism.”
Using the wrong value rendered the formula inaccurate, according to Veuger and his coauthor Kevin Corinth.
“Now, our view is that the formula the administration relied on has no foundation in either economic theory or trade law,” Corinth and Veuger wrote. “But if we are going to pretend that it is a sound basis for U.S. trade policy, we should at least be allowed to expect that the relevant White House officials do their calculations carefully.”
Another AEI economist, Derek Scissors, went even further, saying the administration hadn’t made a mistake, so much as intentionally fudged the math to get the outcome they wanted.
“This whole thing was rigged,” Scissors said Monday on CNBC. “It was a manipulated way to get very high tariffs because President Trump wanted to announce very high tariffs.”
In their original report Corinth and Veuger said they hoped the White House would lower its tariff rates as a result of their discovery. “Hopefully they will correct their mistake soon: the resulting trade liberalization would provide a much-needed boost to the economy and may yet help us stave off a recession,” they wrote.
The three trading days since President Donald Trump announced the U.S.’s new tariff regime saw markets across the world tank. In the U.S., the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and NASDAQ Composite all cratered. In Asia, stocks in Japan and Hong Kong sank even further on Monday, after Trump vowed to escalate the ongoing trade war. While in Europe stocks fell roughly 4.5% on Monday, after a dismal performance last week.
The calculations used by the White House were already somewhat controversial after it became apparent that discounted “reciprocal tariff” amounts were based on a simple formula of dividing the U.S.’s trade deficit with a foreign country by that country’s total exports to the U.S. The resulting number was then divided by two and used as the tariff rate for said country.
Even without the error, the formula was dubious, Corinth and Stan Veuger said. The formula “does not make economic sense,” they wrote. “The trade deficit with a given country is not determined only by tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers, but also by international capital flows, supply chains, comparative advantage, geography, etc.”
Given that the Trump administration’s tariffs were billed as reciprocal tariffs, analysts and investors had expected they would be based on a careful examination of a country’s trade and non-trade barriers with respect to American-made goods. Instead they were based on the formula, which the Washington Post reports President Donald Trump personally insisted on using.
Trump’s personal views on tariffs were, in Veuger’s view, the principal reason for the recent tariff policy.
“What’s driving the policy, is that since the 1980s Trump has been a protectionist, and he thinks trade deficits are losses and trade surpluses are profits,” Veuger said. “He just likes tariffs. Then you can backfill them with various a little more sophisticated, intellectualized rationalizations. But that’s what it is—it’s rationalization.”
The White House said using retail prices instead of import prices was warranted because consumers make purchasing decisions based on retail rather than wholesale prices. A spokesperson added that in their view the tariff rates should actually have been larger.
Corinth and Veuger pointed to research from Harvard Business School professor Alberto Cavallo cited in the U.S. trade representative’s (USTR) memo about how the tariff formula, as evidence the calculations misinterpreted the difference between retail prices and import prices. Cavallo’s work “makes this distinction clear,” they wrote.
Cavallo himself also addressed the fact his work was referenced in the USTR’s report.
“It is not entirely clear how they use our findings,” Cavallo wrote on X last week. “Based on our research, the elasticity of import prices with respect to tariffs is closer to 1. If that figure were used instead of 0.25, the implied reciprocal tariffs would come out about four times smaller.”
If that version of the formula were adopted it would drastically lower the tariff rates imposed on countries. For example Cambodia’s 49% rate, would drop down to 13% and Vietnam’s would go from 46% to 12.2%. The vast majority of countries would end up being subject to the 10% tariff minimum the White House that is part of the White House’s new policy.