China-EU
Since 2012, China has been trying to get the European Union to agree to initiate bilateral free trade agreement talks. China is absent from both the transpacific (TPP) and the transatlantic (TTIP) trade deals and wants "in" on a similarly large pact itself in order to avoid losing out on trade flows or to have to follow new "global" standards set by others. European firms, for their part, want greater openings into China and a more even playing field with domestic companies, especially State-owned enterprises.
In March 2014, Brussels agreed that once an EU-China investment treaty is concluded it will consider broader trade talks with Beijing. The investment treaty negotiations began just a few months prior, in November 2013. Once finalised, this BIT willl replace the 26 existing BITs that China has signed over the years with individual EU member states.
The EU is China’s largest trading partner, while China is the EU’s second export market.
July 2014
Articles
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30-Jan-2019 Xinhua Chinese envoy calls for more flexible approach in investment treaty talks with EU
China and the European Union could take a more flexible approach by setting phase-based targets in bilateral investment treaty negotiations. -
2-Jan-2019 MENAFN EU’s investment court may be bump in China’s Belt and Road plan
The EU has proposed to reform the investor-state-dispute-settlement system, a move that could further complicate negotiations with China over a bilateral investment agreement, as well as their dialogue on the Belt and Road Initiative’s implementation in Europe. -
6-Dec-2018 Global Times China to release new negative list for investment: sources
The new list will lay down foundations that will be conducive for further negotiations on the bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between China and the EU. -
20-Jul-2018 Global Times China-EU investment, trade cooperation can provide new paradigm for world
China and the EU are moving fast toward completing a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), given the two sides’ desire to increase their investment in each other’s markets. -
29-Jun-2018 ICTSD EU, China officials prepare to ramp up investment treaty talks
Officials promised to hit a key milestone in their negotiations for an investment treaty, saying that they would exchange market access offers at next month’s leaders’ summit. -
1-Jun-2018 Asia Times China’s Belt and Road a dilemma for Germany
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tried to ease Germany’s concerns over Beijing’s cooperation with 16 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, which many European Union leaders consider a threat to the bloc’s integration, during his visit to Berlin on Thursday. -
9-May-2018 Latin America Herald Tribune European Parliament delegation in China to discuss trade
The European lawmakers will discuss the recently-imposed US tariffs on steel and aluminum, the question of overcapacity, a bilateral investment agreement, market access and intellectual property rights among other topics. -
15-Mar-2018 Global Times China, EU close to BIT: reports
Despite rising concerns about Chinese investment among some European officials, China and the EU are moving fast toward completing a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) and a free trade agreement (FTA), according to media reports. -
2-Jun-2017 China.org.cn Talks on China-EU investment agreement to speed up
China and Germany have agreed to speed up negotiations on a China-EU investment agreement so as to further enrich the two countries’ cooperation and ties. -
1-Jun-2017 China Daily European firms bet on BIT prospects
European companies are hoping that a bilateral investment treaty between China and European Union can be concluded within 12 months. -
28-Jan-2017 Latin America Herald Tribune Merkel wants to finalize bilateral investment agreement between EU, China
The German Chancellor wants to push forward negotiations to conclusively finalize a bilateral investment agreement between the European Union and China -
11-Apr-2016 Ecns Beijing seeks free trade agreement talks with European Union
Beijing wants Brussels to set the ambitious goal of launching free trade agreement talks in a bid to maximize the potential benefits for both sides while China implements its new five-year (2016-20) social and economic program. -
7-May-2015 China Daily China ’willing’ to seek EU investment treaty
"China is willing to push forward talks for a bilateral investment treaty" with the EU, Premier Li Keqiang said, adding that it would include a "negative list" of areas off-limits to European investors. -
2-Mar-2015 Xinhua Service trade with China set to be new impetus for EU recovery: expert
Brussels and Beijing should speed up negotiation of a Sino-EU Bilateral Investment Treaty and strive to sign it within this year, a Chinese think-tank argues -
23-Jan-2015 Xinhua Le Premier ministre finlandais appelle pour un ALE entre l’UE et la Chine
"Nous travaillons actuellement pour essayer d’arriver à un accord sur un traité d’investissement bilatéral entre l’UE et la Chine, pour ensuite espérer (...) aussi obtenir un accord de libre-échange (ALE)," a déclaré le Premier ministre finlandais Alexander Stubb. -
23-Jan-2015 Xinhua Interview: Finnish PM calls for EU-China FTA
"Now we are working very much on trying to agree on a bilateral investment treaty between the EU and China, then hopefully ... get a free trade agreement (FTA) as well," Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb told Xinhua in an interview. -
19-Dec-2014 Xinhua Europe should have FTA with China: Italian official
Italy’s Deputy Economic Development Minister Carlo Calenda said he pushed for the start of FTA negotiations with China when he chaired a European trade ministers’ meeting in November in Brussels. -
3-Nov-2014 National Law Review Evaluating foreign investment restraints in China
The EU commissioned a review of hundreds of thousands of measures that limit market access and business activities of foreign-owned companies in China. -
15-Oct-2014 Borderlex EU-China investment treaty talks may face bumpy road
The EU and China are discussing their planned bilateral investment treaty on the sidelines of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Italy this week. -
10-Apr-2014 China attempts to split EU and US
President Xi Jinping’s proposal that China and the European Union explore a free trade agreement is a sign of Europe’s pivotal role in the trilateral economic relationship among the United States, the European Union and China.
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