Sunday, November 17, 2024

More fuel added to fire of China-EU trade as trade body files complaint

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China’s Ministry of Commerce said it is reviewing complaints from representatives of the country’s machinery industries against what they have termed “biased practices” from the European Union – a new wrinkle in already prickly relations which could undermine ongoing negotiations over the electric vehicle (EV) trade.

Ministry spokesman He Yadong said on Thursday the department has already received a formal petition from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), a semi-official trade body that defends the interests of Chinese carmakers and solar panel firms.

The trade group has asked the government to investigate what it claims are de facto trade barriers set up under the guise of anti-subsidy probes. Beijing’s assessment, which could lead to further countermeasures, is under way and details will be announced in time, the spokesman said.
Thursday’s announcement marks the latest twist in a pitched battle over trade, the first salvo of which was launched when the EU revealed it planned to levy tariffs against imports of some electric vehicles from China. The East Asian powerhouse responded in kind, launching an anti-dumping investigation into European pork.

“We are paying close attention to the anti-subsidy regulation of the EU, which has had huge impact on Chinese companies that export and invest in the bloc,” He said.

“We’ve expressed our strong dissatisfaction and opposition many times.”

The CCCME issued a press statement on June 12 that expressed “strong opposition” towards EU anti-subsidy tariffs – up to 38 per cent beginning July 4 – on three Chinese EV makers.

It also openly questioned the result of Brussels’ investigation, saying the process was “full of flaws” and claiming the European Commission did not follow typical sampling practices, name its sources or publicise comprehensive data related to the EU’s own EV sector.

China, through its subsequent probe into pork imports, has levelled allegations of “overcapacity” and excessive subsidies – an echo of charges made against it by Western leaders.
The complaint follows a meeting last week between Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao and Valdis Dombrovskis, executive vice-president of the European Commission and European commissioner for trade. The two are negotiating over the details of the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EVs.

“At present, the working teams of both sides are maintaining close communications and pushing ahead with the negotiations,” He Yadong said.

The spokesman added that cooperation between the EU and China should be “win-win” and “supplementary”, and both sides have “ample space” to work together in the green transition.

“Both sides should avoid trade frictions that would negatively impact bilateral trade and investment.”

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