EU-China trade
No progress on trade, investment, Hong Kong as EU wraps-up tense China summit
No tangible progress was made on several key issues as leaders from the EU and China met for a tense virtual summit on Monday (22 June), amid tensions over tariffs targeting Chinese firms and Europe's fears over Beijing's growing global authority.
EU seeks to beef up its defences against foreign subsidies
The European Commission outlined on Wednesday (17 June) new tools to address the disruption caused by subsidised foreign companies operating in the single market, including the possibility to block the acquisition of European firms.
Virus magnifies challenges of doing business in China, EU group says
The COVID-19 epidemic has exacerbated already worrisome trends to doing business in China amid slowing revenue growth, regulatory obstacles and the clout of the state-owned sector, a European business group said on Wednesday (10 June).
Europe should temporarily ban Chinese takeovers, Weber says
The European Union should impose a temporary ban on Chinese takeovers of companies that are currently undervalued or have business problems because of the coronavirus crisis, the leader of the bloc's largest political alliance said on Sunday (17 May).
US exports to the EU still three times higher than to China
The export of US goods to the EU totalled $337 billion in 2019, an increase of 6% on the previous year, according to the Transatlantic Economy 2020 report, published on Thursday (26 March). At the same time, that figure was three times higher than the total of goods exported from the United States to China.
Coronavirus could hurt German economy due to its reliance on China
Since the coronavirus outbreak started, the Chinese economy has begun to suffer. As a result, Germany, and particularly its car industry, could also lose out as China is its most important trading partner. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Coronavirus threatens EU-China agreement in 2020
Concluding an EU-China investment deal this year would be a “real challenge”, even more as the coronavirus will force both sides to cancel negotiation rounds, warned the EU Chamber of Commerce in China.
EU, US, Japan agree on proposals to limit subsidies
The EU, US and Japan put forward on Tuesday (14 January) a proposal to limit industrial subsidies among WTO members and explored ways to address forced technology transfers, two issues at the core of ongoing trade frictions with China.
China calls for opening free trade talks with the EU
Chinese foreign affairs minister Wang Yi made a “plea” on Monday (16 December) for launching free trade talks with the EU, in parallel with the ongoing negotiations on an investment deal.
Does Germany depend too much on China?
While US President Donald Trump is taking aggressive action against China's trade policy, the German government is reluctant to comment on the recent events in Hong Kong because the German economy needs China. EURACTIV's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Europe can be ‘power broker’ between US and China, Macron says
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Europe can be a "power broker" between the United States and China, as the two countries continue to quarrel over the details of a future deal aimed to end the current trade impasse.
Macron plays ‘European’ card on state visit to China
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Shanghai on Monday (4 November), accompanied by a European Commissioner and a German minister. Europeans finally feel they have a card to play against China, while Washington remains opposed to Beijing. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
Huawei’s billion-euro pitch to Vestager
Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has released 2018 figures showing its presence in Europe provided a €12.8 billion stimulus to the EU's economy, backing the company's claim that it has become an essential element of Europe's digital ecosystem.
A new trade policy with teeth and muscle
Europe is prepared to step up its response to unfair trade practices and push for a renewed WTO, aiming to display a more assertive stance towards its partners in the future.
Hogan convinces MEPs by toughening up trade stance
Phil Hogan obtained late on Monday (30 September) the MEPs’ preliminary approval to become the EU's next Trade Commissioner, promising a tougher stance towards China to ensure the protection of European values, and environmental principles in particular.
EU and Japan join forces to counter US and Chinese initiatives
The EU and Japan signed on Friday (27 September) a holistic partnership to promote investment projects based on rules-based and sustainable principles, and to counter the risks posed by the US and China.
Chinese ambassador asks EU for evidence that Huawei is a ‘security threat‘
The European Union needs to show “concrete evidence” that the Chinese tech giant Huawei is a security threat, China’s Ambassador to Slovakia Lin Lin told EURACTIV Slovakia in an interview.
Commissioner Malmström: My successor will have a lot of work to do
"My successor will have a lot of work to do," the current EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström told Efe during her visit to Madrid on Tuesday (10 September). She pointed to relations with the US and China as being among the "very long list" of challenges facing her successor. EURACTIV's partner Euroefe reports.
A new team to defend Europe’s economic sovereignty
Achieving a “more assertive” Europe that can improve its competitiveness and sovereignty in an increasingly hostile world. These are the main guidelines of President-elect Ursula von der Leyen to the new College of Commissioners, unveiled on Tuesday (10 September).
Ren Zhengfei: ‘Very likely’ Huawei products will be used in UK core 5G networks
Huawei 5G equipment will most probably be used in core aspects of the UK's future 5G network infrastructure, the founder of the Chinese telecommunications giant, Ren Zhengfei has said. His claim runs contrary to the previous stance held by the UK cabinet, which was to permit the company access only to 'non-core' aspects of the country's 5G networks.
German ambassador to the EU: ‘China is changing us’
Europe should increase its economic assertiveness abroad and put forward a new strategy to face China’s rivalry, as the challenges posed by Beijing are already affecting the way European countries are preparing to compete with global powers, experts and diplomats agreed on Thursday (12 July).
Huawei: US founding fathers would be ‘alarmed’ with Trump administration
The US founding fathers would be ‘alarmed’ by the recent actions of the Trump administration to restrict access to the American market for Chinese businesses, Huawei’s EU chief, Abraham Liu, said on Tuesday (21 April).
EU to use China as guinea pig to monitor bilateral summit deals
EU member states have decided to set up a new mechanism to monitor China's progress in implementing agreed commitments, with the aim of extending such controls to other bilateral relations, according to documents seen by EURACTIV.