Brussels, 17/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - European Liberal Democrats do not want to grant market economy status to China with its economic system that is locked by the state and padlocked by the Communist Party.
“The recognition of market economy status to China is not on the agenda!” - such is the title of a press release from the European Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) at the European Parliament, published as a reaction to the commitment taken by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, at the EU-China summit on 14 February, to open debate with Beijing on the matter. “Once again, the EU has thrown away its principles while dealing with China. At a time when we are witnessing a tremendous resurgence of political repression in Beijing, European leaders do not have a word of compassion for the hundreds of dissidents imprisoned and brutalised. China is a market, and has a formidable economy. China is not, however, a market economy. It is an economic system locked by the state and padlocked by the Communist Party”, explained Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. Van Rompuy's announcement is all the more “incomprehensible” in the eyes of the ALDE Group chair, as China “insists on preventing any action by the international community in Syria as in Iran”. Marielle De Sarnez of France put in: “The EU trade policy cannot be so completely disconnected from its diplomatic and economic interests. China should obtain this status only when European investments in China are secured, and reciprocity in open markets is guaranteed”. Denouncing the objective - calling for China's contribution to the future European Stability Mechanism (ESM) - Metin Kazak of Bulgaria considers it is in no way reasonable to integrate a third country with a currency that is deliberately manipulated to take part in the management of European sovereign debt. Kazak warned, moreover, that legal recognition by the EU of economy market status for China would weaken trade defence instruments against that country as the EU27 would no longer be able to commit to or maintain their antidumping procedures. (EH/transl.jl)