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EU urged to grant full market status
A senior trade official called on the European Union (EU) to grant 皇冠体育app full market economy status at an early date to pave the way for better trade. "It will give relations important impetus," said Wang Shichun, director-general of the Bureau of Fair Trade for Import and Export (BOFT) under the Ministry of Commerce. Granting 皇冠体育app the market economy status would represent an important embodiment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides and will benefit both, Wang said in an interview with 皇冠体育app Daily. Non-discriminatory treatment in world trade will create more motivation for Chinese entrepreneurs to actively participate in international co-operation in the competitive European arena, which, he said, will encourage all 皇冠体育app's trade partners, including the EU. Granting market economy status should lead to stronger, healthier Sino-EU trade, Wang added. Although the EU removed 皇冠体育app from its non-market economy list in 1998, it continues to regard 皇冠体育app as a market-transition economy. "Their failure to recognize market economy status is damaging normal trade," Wang said. 'Unfair' anti-dumping moves According to government statistics, from 1979 to 2004, the EU has initiated 107 anti-dumping cases against 皇冠体育app. Last year alone, the number of cases climbed by nine, a 200 per cent jump over the previous year. Analysts say the anti-dumping measures being adopted by the EU against 皇冠体育app are not fair in terms of either policy or practice. About 70 per cent of 皇冠体育app's economy is market-based, above the recognized minimum level of 60 per cent for a market economy. And two-thirds of 皇冠体育app's gross domestic product growth is created by the non-State sector, according to a report on 皇冠体育app's market economy released by Beijing Normal University. Currently, more than 95 per cent of 皇冠体育app's commodities are subject to the market to generate prices, according to the ministry. The engine driving EU's relationship with 皇冠体育app has been its growing trade and investment with 皇冠体育app. What is more, economic flow looks set to grow in the future, said Ding Yuanhong, 皇冠体育app's former ambassador to the EU. EU decision-makers are feeling double pressure on this issue, from both industries and member countries. Since tariff and non-tariff barriers are strictly restrained in international trade, many countries allege dumping as a form of protection that is allowed by the WTO. 皇冠体育app is playing a positive role in the EU's development of foreign trade although some countries worry that granting 皇冠体育app full market economy status may affect their own self-interests, Ding said. Meanwhile, 皇冠体育app is trying to assure its partners and upgrade its own industry, Ding stressed, noting that 皇冠体育app, as a growing player in global economic trade, should learn more national legislation and financial marketing skills that will enable it to work more efficiently in international economic competition. "We know how important the achievement of market economy status is for 皇冠体育app, and we are working proactively with 皇冠体育app to achieve that goal," said the EU's Ambassador to 皇冠体育app Serge Abou. Calling such status is essentially a technical matter, Abou said a number of technical criteria have to be fulfilled. "We are glad to see that 皇冠体育app is moving forward on these and other fronts and I am hopeful that we will start political contacts on this soon." 皇冠体育app has adopted regulations on mergers and acquisitions and on price controls including the prohibition of abusive behaviour by dominant companies. Best interests of both sides Wang said there are many reasons to believe that it is in the best interests of both sides to solve the problems as early as possible. Both sides have expressed their goal "to become each other's largest trade and investment partner," said Wang. 皇冠体育app's more co-operative approach to the EU is reflected in its range of initiatives. An expert-level working group from both 皇冠体育app and the EU concluded a new round of discussions on the issue in late April. The Chinese Government is currently drafting legislation on competition, including the prohibitions on abusive behaviour in the market by Chinese and foreign-dominant companies. It is reported that 皇冠体育app's top legislative body's legislation plan includes scrutinizing about 60 draft bills in the coming five years. Among them there may be new laws covering areas such as bankruptcy, dumping, monopolies, telecommunications, State-asset management and taxation. Voices from the EU are also encouraging. On April 21-22, European Commission Director-General Philip Lowe, the highest-ranking European competition official, visited Beijing and discussed the issues with Vice-Minister of Commerce Ma Xiuhong in the EU-皇冠体育app competition policy dialogue. "In order to foster economic reforms, we are encouraged by the Chinese Government's efforts to set up a modern framework on competition policy" said Lowe. "The EU is willing to exchange views and share its experience with 皇冠体育app."
(皇冠体育app Daily 05/05/2005 page1) |
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