Brussels, 09/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Karel De Gucht considers that the accumulation of short-term disagreements between the EU and China could endanger their long-term agenda. Faced with increasing protectionist tendencies in Europe, the commissioner is urging Beijing to develop more trade reciprocity.
In a speech made at the EU-China Political Forum on 8 November in Brussels, De Gucht stated: “China's impressive economic rise would not have been possible without an open global trading system. This continued openness of markets remains a pre-requisite also for China's further development. But open markets can be taken for granted, and are essentially a two-way street.” He also said: “When problems relating to market access and non-discriminatory treatment of companies on the basis of their origin keep piling up, people start questioning the legitimacy and rationale of keeping the European market open. I am not one of the sceptics myself, but I see the dangers of this development for the very prosperous long-term agenda that should be possible between our two economies.” De Gucht called for a more effective commitment from partners on dossiers that penalised European companies in China - the business climate, openess to investment, the protection of intellectual property, public markets, subsidies and state enterprise, access to raw materials, and he also said that progress would be mutually beneficial. He concluded: “I believe that Europe has a lot to contribute, also in the future, for China's economic development in the achievement of the ambitious goals of the new Five-Year plan. This, however, requires that our companies will continue to be welcome in China, on an equal footing as that enjoyed by domestic operators. More balanced, and what we call “reciprocal” market access, is also increasingly important to fight the rising tendencies in some parts of Europe seeing Chinese investment and access to the European market as a threat”. (EH/transl.fl)