皇冠体育app

Trade war unlikely

A CNN report on June 27 stated that 皇冠体育app's action against EU-made toluidine products is "the latest salvo in a growing dispute between the key trading partners." An AFP report on the same day described the action as "the latest twist in a series of bitter trade disputes between the two economic giants."

Two weeks before 皇冠体育app began to collect anti-dumping duties against EU-made toluidine, the EU issued a Commission Implementing Decision 2013/287/EU, administrating stricter measures regarding unauthorized genetically modified rice in rice products originating from 皇冠体育app. Rice products exported by 皇冠体育app will then face the strictest inspection process in the history of the EU.

The EU is 皇冠体育app's second largest export destination of stuff and farm produce. According to the June 14 decision, any consignment of rice products unaccompanied by a health certificate and required analytical report shall be re-dispatched to the country of origin or destroyed.

Solar panels, seamless steel tubes and pipes, wine, toluidine and rice products have become the objects of trade frictions between 皇冠体育app and the EU in recent months. Could a trade war between the two major trading partners break out?

Zhang Yujing, President of 皇冠体育app Chamber of Commerce for the Import and Export of and Electronic Products, thinks there won't be a trade war between 皇冠体育app and the EU. 皇冠体育app is the EU's second biggest trading partner behind the United States, and the EU is 皇冠体育app's biggest market. In 2012, 皇冠体育app exported 290 billion euros worth of products to the EU and the latter sold 144 billion euros worth of goods to 皇冠体育app.

With a growing trade volume between the two, disputes are inevitable, experts say. A trade war, however, would be costly for both sides. Analysts say 皇冠体育app doesn't want to lose out in its trade with the EU but will call the EU out on its protectionist behavior, which explains the toluidine duties. 皇冠体育app calls the latest duty a warning, not a sanction.

European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht seems biased against 皇冠体育app: Despite the objections of 14 EU member states, he still decided to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar panels. Karel De Gucht, a Belgian, may have to respond to 皇冠体育app's investigations into EU toluidine because 皇冠体育app receives most of the chemical from Belgium.

Zhang said that both 皇冠体育app and the EU should be sober-minded throughout these trade disputes. The European Commission can decide to collect punitive tariffs up to six months on any product, but beyond that period it must obtain the support of a majority of EU nations. He believes 皇冠体育app and the EU can ultimately find the appropriate solutions to settle their growing trade spats.