Brussels is following Washington on this one. Today, the EU notified the WTO Secretariat of a request for consultations with China over duties and other measures concerning the exportation of certain raw materials. This request follows on a similar one filed by Washington last week (13 July 2016). The move follows …
Asia
Council endorses new EU China strategy – silent on market economy status
The EU’s foreign affairs council – FAC – meeting today has endorsed a new China strategy devised jointly by the European External Action Service and the Commission. Among others, the strategy endorses the idea of a future free trade agreement with China – provided current investment agreement negotiations are …
Parliament report: EU trade deals increase money laundering risk
A new research report commissioned by the European Parliament argues that free trade agreements increase the risk of money laundering. The report, Commissioned after the Panama Papers affair this spring, says that EU free trade agreements with emerging markets such as South Africa, Chile, Mexico, Central America, or South Korea …
EU Indonesia free trade negotiations okayed
The EU and Indonesia will launch free trade negotiations in the autumn 2016. Initial plans to do so were launched in 2013, but the ‘scoping exercise’ necessary before the EU member states greenlight new talks had lasted particularly long. With France dropping its plans to tax palm oil – a …
In brief: China market economy status post EU China summit
EU members continue to be deeply divided over the issue of granting China market economy treatment in antidumping. “The situation in the Council is complicated”, Peter Žiga, Minister of Economy of Slovakia, told MEPs this morning, referring to the China file. “The issue of granting China market economy status is of …
Commissioner Malmström sidesteps tricky files in first Beijing speech
No talk of China market economy treatment, or an investment agreement, let alone an FTA with China in Malmström’s inaugural speech in Beijing.
18th EU China Summit – avoiding the difficult topics
EU leaders are preparing for the annual EU China summit, to be held in Beijing on 12th and 13th July. Trade Commissioner Malmström will be in the delegation travelling there. Few concrete steps are expected at the event on trade policy. However, the issue of the EU recognising China as …
Brexit could tilt political power balance in TDI reform and China MES – experts
The UK will likely stay out of major decisions in trade policy before it even formally leaves the EU. This will affect major files including the hot China market economy status issue. The UK is still a member of the EU and will formally have the right to participate …
Commission and EEAS launch new China strategy – emphasis on trade, investment and One China policy
Is Federica Mogherini taking the lead on China policy in the EU’s executive? There are signs this is so. The EEAS and the Commission have issued a joint communication on “Elements for a new EU strategy on China”. China was largely absent from the Commission’s November 2015 Trade For All …
Protectionism reports: India, Brazil, Russia, and trade defence in focus
New EU Commission and a WTO/OECD reports highlight latest protectionist trends in G20.
