China and the EU

Latest news about China and the European Union.The EU-China Strategic Partnership, which is based on the 1985 EU China trade and cooperation agreement, has grown to include foreign affairs, security matters and international challenges such as climate change and global economy governance. The EU and China are world players. The EU is China’s biggest trading partner, while China is the EU’s largest source of imports and 2nd largest two way trading partner. The trade and investment relationship is a major source of wealth, jobs, development and innovation for both sides.

EU maps out closer relationship with China — 23 June 2016, 00:32 CET

The EU adopted Wednesday a Communication entitled 'Elements for a new EU strategy on China', which maps out the European Union's relationship with China for the next five years.

MEPs vote against market economy status for China — 13 May 2016, 15:49 CET

EU Parliament members voted against dumping and the granting of market economy status (MES) to China Thursday. This is seen as an important signal that the EU will not grant MES so long as China fails to meet its WTO obligations.

Chinese toys, clothing top EU's 2015 list of unsafe products — 26 April 2016, 16:37 CET

Toys and clothing top the list of dangerous products for which the EU issued Europe-wide alerts last year, with China remaining the number one country of origin for products on the EU's alert system.

EU agri-food trade continues to increase — 22 April 2016, 11:40 CET

EU agri-food exports in February 2016 were worth EUR 10.2 billion, well above export values in January, and even slightly above exports in February last year, according to the EU's latest monthly statistical report.

EU - China partnership on 5G — 28 September 2015, 22:49 CET

The EU and China have signed a milestone agreement in the global race to develop 5G networks, during today's EU-China High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue in Beijing.

EU anti-dumping investigation on imports of solar panels from China — 02 December 2013, 11:55 CET

EC documents on the EU’s anti-dumping investigation on imports of solar panels from China - EU market access investigations

Anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese solar panels — 04 June 2013, 17:36 CET

The European Commission has decided to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of solar panels, cells and wafers from China.

Negotiations for an investment agreement with China — 23 May 2013, 13:41 CET

The European Commission decided today to ask the EU Member States for their agreement on a mandate to open negotiations on an investment agreement with China. This is the first ever proposal for a stand-alone investment agreement since foreign direct investment became the exclusive competence of the EU under the Lisbon Treaty.

China's anti-dumping duties on X-ray security scanners - WTO case — 26 February 2013, 19:09 CET

A World Trade Organization panel report (DS425) found that China's anti-dumping duties on imports of X-ray security scanners from the EU were in breach of WTO anti-dumping rules. The report marks a clear victory for the EU. If the report is not appealed within 60 days, China will be expected to remove its anti-dumping duties on EU imports of X-ray security scanners.

EU anti-subsidy investigation on solar panel imports from China — 08 November 2012, 13:46 CET

The European Commission has launched an anti-subsidy ("countervailing duty") investigation into imports of solar panels and their key components (i.e. solar cells and solar wafers) originating in China.

EU anti-dumping investigation into solar panel imports from China — 06 September 2012, 10:57 CET

The European Commission has aunched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of solar panels and their key components (i.e. solar cells and solar wafers) originating in China. EU Pro Sun, an industry association, claimed in its complaint lodged on 25 July 2012 that solar panels and their key components imported from China enter the European market at prices below market value. In terms of import value affected, this is the most significant anti-dumping complaint the European Commission has received so far: in 2011, China exported solar panels and their key components worth around €21 billion to the EU. The investigation will take 15 months in total, whereas it is possible according to trade defence rules to impose provisional anti-dumping duties within 9 months, provided there is sufficient prima facie evidence of dumping.

RAPEX in 2011 - guide — 08 May 2012, 14:03 CET

EU consumers want to be sure that the products - whether produced in the EU or imported from third-countries - are safe. The RAPEX 2011 Report shows that the EU's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products ("RAPEX") is increasingly effective. Dangerous products are detected earlier and more effectively and are more promptly removed from the EU market. This process involves a chain of actions including upstream efforts to design out risks at source, better risk assessment and close co-operation between EU authorities, notably customs, to identify risks at the points of entry.

EU WTO challenge to China's export restrictions on rare earths - guide — 13 March 2012, 22:00 CET

The European Union has launched a second challenge of China's export restrictions on raw materials including 17 rare earths, as well as tungsten and molybdenum. Together with the US and Japan, the EU formally requested dispute settlement consultations with China in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). This follows a successful EU challenge at the WTO on similar restrictions for other raw materials earlier this year.

China - EU factsheet — 14 February 2012, 10:14 CET

The European Union is looking to strengthen its partnership with China at the fourteenth EU-China summit, to take place in Beijing on 14 February 2012. The EU will be represented by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. The People's Republic of China will be represented by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

WTO Case on export restrictions of raw materials in China - guide — 31 January 2012, 23:19 CET

The Appellate Body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 30 January confirmed the findings made by a Panel in July 2011 that China's export restrictions on several industrial raw materials are in breach of WTO rules. The WTO found that China's export restrictions are not justified for reasons of environmental protection or conservation policy. Today's final ruling was welcomed by Europe's trade chief.

2009 customs detentions of goods suspected of infringing Intellectual Property Right (IPR) - guide — 22 July 2010, 17:32 CET

In 2009, EU Customs took action in 43,500 cases involving several million products suspected of being counterfeited or pirated at the external borders of the EU. This is according to the European Commission’s annual report on EU Customs Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), which was published today. Cigarettes, clothing and brand labels were among the main articles stopped by customs on suspicion of IPR infringements. However, products for daily use and posing a potential danger to citizens’ health, such as shampoos, toothpaste, toys, medicines or household appliances, also accounted for a significant part. Today’s report gives statistics on the type, origin and transport method of IPR infringing products stopped at the external borders.

EU restricts imports of plants from China — 11 May 2010, 17:39 CET

The European Union has decided to impose stricter measures for the import from China of plants hosting the harmful citrus long horn beetle, an insect that is not native to Europe and can attack a wide range of plants.

Community rapid information system for dangerous products (RAPEX) - briefing — 15 April 2010, 15:00 CET

The number of dangerous consumer products notified through the EU's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products ("RAPEX") rose by 7% in 2009 compared to 2008, the European Commission's annual RAPEX report shows today. This rise from 1866 notifications in 2008 to 1993 last year shows that the capacity of the RAPEX system has increased again in 2009, following more effective market surveillance by Member States. European businesses are also taking their responsibilities in the consumer product safety area more seriously and recall their unsafe products from the market more readily. They also begin to use the dedicated rapid alert system for business ('Business Application') more systematically. Toys, clothing and motor vehicles were the most frequently notified products in 2009. In addition, the results of an EU market surveillance exercise, involving 13 countries checking the safety of toys, were also presented today, and show that around 20% did not comply with the relevant safety requirements.

The EU's Trade Relationship with China — 08 July 2011, 15:52 CET

China is the single most important challenge for EU trade policy. China has re-emerged as the world's third economy and the biggest exporter in the global economy, but also an increasingly important political power. EU-China trade has increased dramatically in recent years. China is now the EU's 2nd trading partner behind the USA and the EU's biggest source of imports by far. The EU is also China's biggest trading partner.

EU requests WTO consultations on Chinese export restrictions on raw materials - briefing — 23 June 2009, 16:05 CET

China applies export restrictions - quotas and export duties - on key raw materials. The European Commission says these restrictions distort competition and increase global prices, as some of these resources cannot be found elsewhere. Downstream industries in China therefore have access to cheaper materials than their competitors outside China. That is not a level playing field, and the EU and U.S. have asked for consultations with China at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

EU and China agreements to strengthen cooperation on protecting Intellectual Property Rights and on preventing illicit imports of chemical substances used for synthetic drug production - briefing — 30 January 2009, 14:19 CET

Commissioner Kovacs, responsible for Taxation and Customs, today signed an Action Plan with the Chinese Ambassador Song to strengthen customs cooperation on protecting Intellectual Property Rights. They also signed an agreement to enhance customs co-operation in monitoring trade and preventing trafficking and the diversion of drug precursors (chemicals that are essential to the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs).

EU - US - China summit on product safety - briefing — 17 November 2008, 22:58 CET

Following the successful "Joint U.S.-EU-China Initiative on Consumer Product Safety Compliance" held in China in September 2008, the product safety authorities of the European Union (European Commission, EC), the U.S. (Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC) and China (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, AQSIQ) held a summit to strengthen their trilateral cooperation in this area.

EU-China trade in facts and figures — 23 September 2008, 15:04 CET

China is now the third biggest national exporter in the global economy after Germany and the US. China now accounts for about 8 % of all imports and 12% of all exports in world trade in goods. More than half of China's exports are currently capitalised by foreign companies. Most of this capitalisation comes from neighbouring Asian companies in Japan and South Korea. 8% of it is European.

Chinese treatment of foreign financial information providers - EU WTO request — 03 March 2008, 23:19 CET

The European Union has formally requested consultations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over measures that affect the operation of foreign financial information suppliers in China. China has prevented foreign suppliers of financial information services from providing their services directly to their clients. They are now required to operate through an agent that is a branch of Xinhua itself. Moreover, Xinhua has recently launched a financial information service in direct competition with foreign suppliers. The European Commission had tried to solve the issue through cooperation and dialogue, but without success. The United States has also requested consultations at the WTO over this issue.

EU Trade with India and China — 26 November 2007, 14:44 CET

EU27 trade with China grew by 150% between 2000 and 2006. EU Trade with India up by 80%.