In Shanghai, Europeans will advocate a bold reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO). China’s role and Sino-European relations will also be on the European representatives’ agenda on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 November.
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström joined Phil Hogan, Commissioner for Agriculture, in Shanghai for a two-day mini WTO ministerial meeting. The agenda for the meeting includes the progress of the organization’s reform, the crisis in the Appellate Body, the next WTO Ministerial Meeting (MC 12) and the (meagre) results that can be expected.
Before flying to the East, Mrs Malmström called on Twitter for the parties to be “brave in reforms and modernisation” for the multilateral institution, recalling that the WTO is going through “an unprecedented crisis”.
The EU also expects China to take a more active role and adopt a bolder vision of this reform (see EUROPE 12355/14).
Phil Hogan already in the spotlight
On Monday 4 November, Phil Hogan, in his dual role as Commissioner for Agriculture and Commissioner-designate for Trade in the future Commission, took the opportunity to meet with the European business community in Shanghai.
He addressed representatives of French and German companies at an event organised by the EU Chamber of Commerce in China that was also attended by French President Emmanuel Macron.
As part of his “diplomatic offensive” to promote European agricultural products in the world, Mr Hogan will attend the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo on 5 November, at which European geographical indications will be “celebrated”, according to an EU source.
He will also meet Han Changfu, Chinese Minister of Agriculture; both will probably confirm the conclusion of an agreement on geographical indications (see EUROPE 12357/15).
On the sidelines at the meeting, Mrs Malmström and Mr Hogan will hold bilateral talks: on Wednesday 6 November, they will meet their Australian counterpart (see other news); Mr Hogan will also meet with David Parker, New Zealand’s Minister of Trade. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)