Minister Wang Wentao of Commerce held talks with Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President and Commissioner for Trade of the European Union in Beijing during the latter’s visit to China on September 24. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on preparations for the 10th China-EU High-level Economic and Trade Dialogue, electric vehicles, 5G, among other issues.

Wang said that China attaches great importance to China-EU trade and economic relations. The State Council of China has recently issued 24 measures on optimizing the business environment for foreign investment, which relevant ministries are making solid efforts to implement. This stands to foster a business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law, and up to international standards. MOFCOM will continue to hear about the needs of foreign-invested enterprises, including European companies, through the Roundtable for Foreign-Invested enterprises and the complaint center for FIEs and work to solve problems and difficulties.

Wang expressed serious concerns and strong dissatisfaction that the EU will launch a countervailing investigation into Chinese electric vehicles, stressing that the rapid growth of China’s EV industry is attributable to technological innovation, free competition and a complete industrial supply chain. The EU’s decision to launch an anti-subsidy probe is a protectionist practice, which will affect China-EU green cooperation and the global auto industrial and supply chains stability. China hopes the EU can engage in dialogue and consultation with China, abide by WTO rules and properly address trade frictions in a non-politicized and non-discriminatory way.

Highlighting the vibrant bilateral relationship, Dombrovskis said that China is EU’s major trading partner and commended and looked forward to the 24 measures issued by the State Council to optimize the foreign investment climate. The EU is willing to conduct consultations with China on the anti-subsidy investigation, and will carry out the investigation on the basis of adhering to the WTO rules and guaranteeing transparency.

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