The spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce, Huang Ling, has called on the European Union (EU) to stop making unilateral threats regarding a potential closure of the Chinese market in the absence of progress in trade negotiations.
Huang emphasized the importance of equitable discussions between China and the EU, stating, “Consultations at all levels between China and the EU should adhere to the stable and balanced positioning of their crucial trade partnership, uphold the principle of addressing concerns equally, and refrain from unilaterally imposed demands or frequent threats of market closure.” She urged the EU to bravely confront its own economic and trade issues, asserting that China is not “the cause of their problems” and could instead be a partner in finding solutions.
Her remarks follow comments from European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, who, in a recent interview with Euronews, stated that China must present “concrete results” by October, or the EU would impose “tougher measures.” He highlighted the EU’s desire for clarity on the path forward, saying, “The Twenty-Seven want to see where we are heading. They want a solution concept for this issue, a pilot project. I am trying to achieve this through negotiations, but they need to provide us with very concrete results. Otherwise, of course, there will be strong political pressure to push for, I would say, tougher measures.”
Huang further called on the EU to champion free trade and a multilateral trade system based on rules while avoiding protectionism. She expressed, “Protectionism leads nowhere, and mutually beneficial cooperation is the right path. China is willing to work with the EU to strengthen regular and institutionalized communication on trade, manage differences, expand practical cooperation, and move trade between China and the EU towards a higher and more balanced trajectory.”
France has also faced criticism from China regarding its new environmental regulations that impose taxes on fast fashion products sold by companies such as Shein, Aliexpress, and Temu. Huang Ling urged French authorities to reconsider this legislation, arguing that the stated “environmental” and “sustainable” criteria obscure other objectives and may violate the World Trade Organization (WTO) principle of non-discrimination. She added, “If France persists in its stance, China will take necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, and France will bear all consequences.”
Source: www.infobae.com
