In a progress report dated 18 July that was published on Tuesday 24 July, the European Commission stated that the 18th round of talks for an investment agreement between the European Union and China, which took place in Brussels on 12-13 July, enabled the discussions that were started during the previous round to be extended, particularly on expropriation, national treatment, fair and equitable treatment and sustainable development.
With regard to expropriation, the negotiators improved their understanding of the modalities for payment of compensation, and the scope and rationale of regulatory expropriation, the note states.
The discussions on sustainable development, where the negotiators made "real efforts" to explore the options to bridge the gaps in their positions, were "valuable".
The discussions on national treatment and its arrangements and related exceptions, as well as the discussions on fair and equitable treatment, will require additional technical follow up, according to the path outlined by the chief negotiators, the document stated.
The 19th round of talks is provisionally planned for 29-30 October in Beijing. The agenda and exact timing have not yet been confirmed.
The EU and China exchanged their offers on access to the investment market at their 20th bilateral summit in Beijing on 16 July (see EUROPE 12063).
Launched in 2013, these negotiations have progressed slowly in their second phase relating to market access since the agreement concluded at the start of 2016 on the scope of the agreement. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)