05/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - On the eve of the EU-China summit on 6 October, Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht has set the cat among the pigeons in an interview with Le Monde in which he suggested that the EU was considering denying access to its public contracts for non-EU states which impose restrictions on European firms. “Reciprocity is an interesting concept for access to public contracts,” said De Gucht, who calls himself a “free trader with principles”. “In trade defence, we are looking at the possibility of denying third countries which put in restrictions access to our public contracts. It is in our interests to maintain an open trade system, but it is only right that governments defend the interests of their countries though without things becoming nationalistic,” he added. (E.H./transl.rt)