We believe that imported scientific equipment should be more fairly priced for researchers in China. We can be charged up to three times more than our counterparts in Western laboratories. By contrast, price differences for imported equipment are insignificant for scientists in Japan and Australia.

Examples of overpriced equipment include lasers for measuring distance, Doppler ultrasonic flow meters, data loggers and soil- or water-related sensors. Many of China's researchers are currently forced to spend as much as 60% of their funding on foreign equipment.

Our informal consultations with researchers and sales representatives suggest that prices in the Chinese market are inflated by distributors' charges and service fees, deals between distributors and manufacturers, and for other unknown reasons. Shipping fees account for only a small proportion of the surcharge.

To further its research and development, China needs to introduce more powerful regulations against these pricing monopolies. It should also step up its own manufacturing capability of key scientific equipment.