He Yadong: Friends from the press, good afternoon. Welcome to MOFCOM regular press conference. Since I don’t have any announcement to make today, I am ready to take your questions.

The floor is open.

The Cover: According to MOFCOM, the Mainland and Hong Kong have substantially concluded a new round of consultations on the revision of the Trade in Services Agreement under CEPA. How will this round of revision deepen the opening-up and cooperation of trade in services between the Mainland and Hong Kong?

He Yadong: Since 2003, the Mainland and Hong Kong have signed the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and a series of agreements under the CEPA framework. CEPA has evolved into a high-level free trade agreement with the characteristics of “one country, two systems” and in line with WTO rules. Under CEPA, the Mainland has fully liberalized trade in goods and basically liberalized trade in services with Hong Kong. In terms of trade in services, the Mainland has opened up 153 service sectors to Hong Kong, accounting for 95.6% of all the 160 service sectors categorized by the WTO, and applied national treatment to Hong Kong in 69 sectors. This has not only boosted Hong Kong professional services industry, but also strongly supported Hong Kong professionals in working and practicing in the Mainland.

Recently, MOFCOM, together with relevant departments and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, held the Third CEPA Joint Steering Committee High Level Meeting, substantially concluded a new round of consultations on the revision of the CEPA Trade in Services Agreement, and reached preliminary consensus on the Mainland’s measures to open up service sectors to Hong Kong. New measures will benefit professional service sectors in which Hong Kong has advantages and services industry has a keen interest, such as legal services, financial services, architectural and engineering services, and audiovisual services, and further facilitate Hong Kong firms and professionals in doing business in the Mainland.

Southern Metropolis Daily: We saw that on June 17, MOFCOM published an announcement launching an anti-dumping investigation into pork and pig by-products originating in the EU. Is there any update to the investigation?

He Yadong: At the request of the domestic industry and in accordance with the law, MOFCOM launched an anti-dumping investigation into pork and pig by-products imported from the EU. According to China’s anti-dumping investigation process, stakeholders shall register at the investigating authority for participation in the investigation within 20 days as of the date of publication of the investigation announcement. After that, the investigating authority will continue with the investigation by means of sampling, questionnaires, etc.

This investigation was initiated at the request of the domestic industry, with the aim of ensuring orderly external trade and fair competition in accordance with the law. The investigating authority will strictly abide by WTO rules and Chinese laws, and will effectively protect the lawful rights and interests of stakeholders. Thank you.

Economic Daily: On July 3rd, the German Association of the Automotive Industry made a statement that imposing tariffs on new energy vehicles from China would harm the interests of European and American auto manufacturers operating in China. BMW also said that imposing tariffs is a dead end and would harm the interests of global enterprises. What is your comment?

He Yadong: China has noted that the governments of some EU member states and major European automakers have repeatedly expressed clear opposition to the EU's anti-subsidy measures against electric vehicles from China. China hopes that the EU can listen to their voices, hold consultations with China with reason and pragmatism, and prevent anti-subsidy measures from harming the win-win cooperation and common development of the automotive industries in China and Europe.

Reuters: Last week, MOFCOM said the work teams of China and the EU were advancing consultations over provisional duties on electric vehicles from China, in the hope to find a solution acceptable to both sides. Are these consultations still going on? Could you update us on the latest development?

China has repeatedly expressed strong opposition to EU’s investigation on electric vehicles from China, and believes that trade frictions should be properly resolved through dialogue and consultation.

In their video call on June 22, Minister Wang Wentao and Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Dombrovskis agreed to immediately start consultations to properly resolve the issues, based on the two pillars of facts and rules. To date, China and the EU have held several rounds of consultations at the technical level.

Now there is a four-month window before the final determinations are made. We expect the EU to meet China halfway, demonstrate good faith, and intensify efforts to advance the consultation process based on facts and rules. We hope to find a solution acceptable to both sides as soon as possible.

(All information published on this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only.)