A new policy document on trade with China was officially released by the European Union (EU) on October 24 of this year. Meanwhile, a "sister document" that describes in details EU's trade with China and its investment policy was also released for the first time.  These documents will involve such sensitive issues as the intellectual property, market access, RMB exchange rate and government procurement.

According to EU official Mr. Adams, "These documents with the purpose of providing guidance for EU's trade with China in the 10 years to come will involve various sensitive areas of Sino-EU trade, such as: intellectual property, market access, accounting system, government subsidy, banking system, RMB exchange rate and government procurement.  And it is expected that these documents will urge China to further opening its market to the outside world." At present, the specific details of these documents are still not clear. But Mr. Adams revealed that these documents will convey an "even clearer" signal, that is, regarding the issues of trade and investment, EU is willing to develop more dialogues with China and establish deeper partnership relations with China.

It is learned that Mr. Mendelsson will visit China in November this year and that a new and all-round partnership agreement that include trade and investment issues will be published in January 2007.  Besides, EU will publish a document pertaining to its market economy status with China by the end of this year.

2006-10-31

2006-10-31