European and American countries pressure domestic software to be canceled

It is a policy that the government has consistently adopted to prioritize the use of independent innovation products in government procurement so as to support innovative enterprises and improve innovation capabilities. Last year, some experts also suggested that we should improve the government procurement system and learn from the practices of developed countries to promote independent innovation through government procurement. However, this policy has encountered "changes." The Ministry of Finance and other ministries have issued a document a few days ago to abolish the government's policy of prioritizing the use of self-help innovation products. "This is due to the pressure exerted by Europe and the United States," some experts told reporters.

"Europe and the United States have pressured" This cancellation is not unexpected. The United States and Europe have exerted great pressure on us and believe that the procurement of independent innovation products is discriminatory against European and American companies. Our country has previously stated on different occasions that it must take government procurement and autonomy. Innovation separation.” He Hongfeng, an expert on government procurement and professor at Nankai University Law School, told reporters.

Professor Cao Fuguo, director of the Institute of Public Procurement at the Central University of Finance and Economics, expressed similar views to the reporter of the “IT Times”. “Mainly because of external pressure, it comes from foreign governments and interest groups. Promoting independent innovation through government procurement may be Misreading protects local companies, so misunderstandings have a negative impact on multinational companies."

In 2010, the Ministry of Science and Technology publicly solicited opinions on the "Notice on Launching the National Authenticating Work for Independent Innovation Products in 2010 (Consultation Draft)". The US-China Business Council (USCBC) submitted in its revised proposal that the formulation of lists and catalogs that are conducive to certain products and technologies is highly likely to lead to discriminatory policy enforcement. It is suggested that China abandon encouragement through government procurement or product lists. Innovation, but should promote local innovation by attracting international technology to China, and encouraging R&D centers to invest and spend in China.

At the second innovation dialogue topic communication meeting held in March of this year, the United States continued to express its concern for the identification of China's independent innovation and government procurement policies.

In April this year, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China issued its first investigation report on China's public procurement market. The report cited the problems and difficulties faced by EU enterprises in the bidding and tendering process in China's public procurement market and called on China to deepen reforms in the public procurement field.

Not because of GPA

Regarding the Ministry of Finance's policy of abolishing the use of independent innovation products in government procurement, there are views that this applies to our country's application to join the GPA ("Government Purchase Agreement"), which is in line with its conditions, but He Hongfeng and Cao Fuguo do not think much of a relationship.

The GPA is a plurilateral agreement of the WTO. The goal is to promote the participants to open up the government procurement market and expand international trade. On December 28, 2007, China submitted a GPA application to the WTO Government Procurement Committee and formally entered the negotiation process. However, four years later, the negotiations have not yet reached any conclusion.

Professor Cao Fuguo believes that at present, China's accession to the GPA is still under negotiation. Therefore, from the perspective of international law, China has not opened up the international obligations of the public procurement market, and China’s public procurement market is highly open to foreign companies.

Prof. He Hongfeng made it clear that the cancellation of the policy of prioritizing the use of independent innovation products in government procurement has nothing to do with the GPA. "This policy must not be canceled before joining. Instead, it must be strengthened. This is an important weight in the negotiations. It is impossible to throw away such important cards before the talks are concluded," said He Hongfeng.

He Hongfeng believes that supporting the purchase of independent innovation products is precisely stimulated by the GPA. "After the implementation of the Government Procurement Law, the purchase of domestic goods has not actually been implemented until 2007. On December 28, 2007, the country's application for GPA was formally submitted. The relevant implementation measures for purchasing domestic goods were introduced the day before."

Domestic enterprises have been affected by the “national independent innovation catalogue”, but many local governments have introduced product catalogues, and government procurement has stopped prioritizing the use of independent innovation products. The direct impact has been on the inclusion of local governments. Directory of companies," said He Hongfeng.

Xiao Yu, vice president of Kingsoft Office Software Inc. admits that in the process of legalization of software in government agencies, the government's preference for preferential procurement of home-made software has played an important role in the follow-up development of Kingsoft. As of today, government procurement accounts for 56% of WPS's total turnover. Compared to last year, Jinshan WPS’s sales in government procurement increased by 200%. The overall turnover of Kingsoft WPS is also expected to increase by 30%-50%. However, she also said that the cancellation of the preferential policies should not have much impact on companies. "We certainly hope to receive government support but not rely on them. The main thing is to rely on product strength to get money from the market and get users. Identities."

Xiao Yu stated that the more far-reaching significance of supporting and supporting self-innovation products is related to the development of the entire national industry and even the entire Chinese economy, not just the interests of individual companies.

In fact, at present, in some local government procurement, it is not the multinational corporations but the local enterprises that are subject to “discrimination”. For example, at the beginning of this year, a certain city government of Shandong Province purchased Microsoft products directly without office bidding. Some time ago, a municipal government in Hunan specified the procurement of Microsoft products in the genuine procurement documents for office software. "We understand the various policies of the country, but we also hope to have a fair and equitable competitive environment," Xiao Yu said.