貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)是否會給中國金融科技造成傷害

隨著中美貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)的持續(xù)，這場沖突有可能讓工業(yè)蒙受損失的報導(dǎo)紛至沓來。許多專家認為，貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)將對中國經(jīng)濟產(chǎn)生嚴重負面影響，中國將面臨經(jīng)濟減速和高負債。因為美國加征對華關(guān)稅而成本上升的行業(yè)包括電子、化工和塑料，而中國的報復(fù)措施也會增加消費者的支出，特別是在農(nóng)產(chǎn)品和鋼鐵產(chǎn)品方面。到目前為止，關(guān)稅還沒有指向任何服務(wù)行業(yè)，但這不意味著服務(wù)業(yè)會毫發(fā)無損。貿(mào)易沖突加劇對中國金融科技業(yè)有什么影響呢?

As the US-China trade war continues, reports of industries potentially damaged by the skirmish are rolling in. Many experts believe that the trade war will have a strongly negative effect on China's economy, which is facing an economic slowdown and high levels of debt. Industries that face higher costs due to US tariffs on China include the electronics, chemicals, and plastics industries. Chinese retaliation will raise costs for its consumers, especially in the areas of agriculture and steel products. So far, tariffs haven't been placed on any service sectors, but this doesn't mean that service sectors will go entirely unscathed. What might happen to the Chinese fintech industry as a result of the growing trade conflict?

中國的金融科技行業(yè)包括電子支付、消費者及小企業(yè)貸款、網(wǎng)上理財、互聯(lián)網(wǎng)保險等類別。該行業(yè)在很大程度上迎合中低層消費者的需求，而中國政府希望他們購買更多商品，彌補出口下滑和固定資產(chǎn)投資的下降。金融科技與中國的電子商務(wù)和互聯(lián)網(wǎng)相關(guān)產(chǎn)業(yè)一樣，正在以比其他產(chǎn)業(yè)更快的速度增長，是重要的經(jīng)濟增長點。

China's fintech industry includes sectors like digital payments, consumer and small firm lending, online wealth management, and online insurance. The industry caters in large part to lower and middle class consumers that China's government is hoping will purchase more goods to make up for a declining export sector and waning fixed asset investment. The fintech industry, along with China's e-commerce and internet-related industries, is growing at a faster rate than the rest of the economy. Therefore, it is an important source of growth.

許多中國購物者在網(wǎng)上購買外國商品，因為這些商品的質(zhì)量更好。2017年，中國的在線跨境零售支出估計為1000億美元，中國的在線跨境銷售總額估計為1400億美元。由于出現(xiàn)額外費用，網(wǎng)上買家和賣家在買賣被列入關(guān)稅清單的商品時將面臨更高的價格，這有可能導(dǎo)致買賣雙方的交易額下降，在外國電子零售市場上的電子支付交易減少。Paypal的一項調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn)，從美國購買商品的時候，大多數(shù)中國消費者對質(zhì)量更敏感，對價格卻不那么敏感。但這不意味著一旦發(fā)現(xiàn)可以從其他渠道購買高質(zhì)量產(chǎn)品，他們不會轉(zhuǎn)向其他賣家，而這肯定會讓高科技產(chǎn)品銷售商的利益受損。

Many Chinese shoppers purchase foreign goods online due to their better quality. Chinese cross-border online retail spending was estimated at about $100 billion in 2017, and Chinese cross-border online sales in total were estimated to be $140 billion. Online sellers and shoppers buying or selling goods in the tariff categories will see costs go up as the additional fees are imposed. This is likely to result in reduced sales for both buyers and sellers, and therefore fewer digital payment transactions with regard to foreign e-tail (electronic retailing) markets. While a survey by Paypal found that most Chinese shoppers may be more quality-sensitive and less price-sensitive in buying goods from the US, this doesn't mean they won't look to other sellers if they can purchase quality products elsewhere. It will certainly harm sellers of high-tech products.

此外，貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)會給整個中國經(jīng)濟帶來沖擊。關(guān)稅成本的上升將加大中國保持經(jīng)濟增長、減少企業(yè)債務(wù)的難度。這兩個因素，加上監(jiān)管機構(gòu)推動高水平債務(wù)去杠桿，有可能讓金融經(jīng)濟的流動性減少。因此，我們預(yù)計貸款的提供會減少，而且不僅銀行業(yè)想必如此，貸款減少也會擴大到在線貸款領(lǐng)域，后者可能會著手從正規(guī)金融機構(gòu)或其他個人及公司籌資。由于資金不足，可以提供給消費者和小企業(yè)的貸款也會下降。所以該行業(yè)無疑會受到負面影響。

In addition, there will be knock-on effects throughout China's economy from the trade war. Increased costs from tariffs will contribute to China's struggle to maintain economic growth and reduce corporate debt. These two factors, coupled with a regulatory push to deleverage high levels of debt, are likely to reduce liquidity in the economy. As a result, we can expect available loans to decline. It seems highly plausible that this would extend not only to the banking sector, but also to the online lending sector, which may start to channel funds from formal financial institutions or from other individuals and firms. As there is less money to go around, there will be fewer loans available to consumers and small businesses. Undoubtedly, this will negatively impact the sector.

人們手中的資金少了，他們投入網(wǎng)上財富管理服務(wù)的錢就會更少。中國的網(wǎng)上財富管理服務(wù)允許用戶把他們的錢投向貨幣市場基金和組合基金。例如，阿里巴巴為網(wǎng)上購物者提供余額寶服務(wù)，好讓他們把余錢投給一只貨幣市場基金;宜信公司的母基金則覆蓋多種資產(chǎn)類型。這些投資渠道越來越受歡迎，因為中國幾乎沒有其他穩(wěn)定、回報率高的投資場所。由于貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)的負面影響，可以用來進行私人投資的資金或許會縮減。

As people have fewer funds, they are also likely to invest less through online wealth management services. China's online wealth management services allow users to invest in assets like money market funds and funds of funds. For example, Alibaba offers Yu'e Bao for online shoppers to invest some of their leftover cash in a money market fund, while Creditease offers a fund of funds covering a variety of asset categories. These investment outlets have become increasingly popular, since China has few other investment outlets with stable and strong returns. Due to the negative effect of the trade war, available funds for private investment may decline.

如果整體經(jīng)濟活動放緩，互聯(lián)網(wǎng)保險也有可能受影響。眾安保險等在線保險公司推出與網(wǎng)購密切相關(guān)的產(chǎn)品，例如眾安的電商產(chǎn)品退貨保險，以及通過攜程旅行網(wǎng)購買的旅游保險。由于電子商務(wù)受影響，眾安保險這樣的公司也會受到波及。

Online insurance is also likely to be affected, if overall economic activity slows. Online insurance companies like Zhongan Insurance have created products that are closely tied to online purchases. For example, Zhongan offers insurance covering e-commerce product returns as well as travel insurance that can be purchased through Ctrip, a travel website. As e-commerce is affected, companies like Zhongan Insurance will also be affected.

盡管中國服務(wù)業(yè)在中美貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)中還沒有成為直接的征稅目標，但由于與美國的跨境業(yè)務(wù)放緩、經(jīng)濟減速加劇以及信貸緊縮，金融科技服務(wù)也會受到不利影響。不過，中國政府已經(jīng)敏銳地覺察貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)的波及面，正努力幫助中國企業(yè)尋找采購與銷售替代市場。這是一項艱巨的任務(wù)，因為關(guān)稅種類實在太多。與通過傳統(tǒng)方式買賣的商品一樣，中國電商最終也可能離開美國的產(chǎn)品和消費者，轉(zhuǎn)向歐洲或亞洲市場。這個轉(zhuǎn)換過程將有助于中國的電子商務(wù)體系渡過難關(guān)，減輕與在線活動密切相關(guān)的金融科技行業(yè)受到的不利影響。

Even though China's services industry is not yet directly subject to tariffs in the US-China trade war, fintech services are likely to be adversely impacted due to a slowdown in cross-border business with the US and a worsened economic slowdown and credit crunch. The government is acutely aware of the ramifications of the trade war, however, and is attempting to help Chinese firms find alternative markets to source from and sell to. This is a prodigious task, as the tariff categories are numerous. As with goods that are traded via traditional means, China's e-commerce sector may end up turning away from American products and consumers and toward European or Asian markets. This process of switching markets will help to buoy China's e-commerce regime and reduce the negative effects felt by the fintech industry, which closely complements online activity.

但從短期看，中美貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)的不利影響似乎難以避免。與中國許多其他行業(yè)一樣，金融科技很可能要經(jīng)受這場貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)的負面沖擊。

In the short run, however, it seems there is no escaping the unfavorable effects of the US-China trade war. It is highly likely that the fintech sector, like many other sectors in China, will be adversely impacted by the conflict.

作者：徐賽蘭(Sara Hsu)，紐約州立大學(xué)經(jīng)濟學(xué)助理教授