China EU relations

French President's Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne said that Europe maintains its commitment to strategic autonomy and is committed to creating a fair business environment, without intention to exclude Chinese enterprises and products from the European market. He said it is hoped that a solution can be reached through consultations, per China's Foreign Ministry on Friday.

Bonne shared these remarks Thursday during a phone call with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs.

Wang hoped that France will view China-EU economic and trade relations with a positive and open attitude, encouraged the EU to meet China halfway, and play a constructive role in consultation and negotiations between the two sides, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The phone call follows China's announcement of temporary anti-dumping measures on brandy originating in the EU starting from Friday. China's commerce ministry said that this action is a legitimate trade remedy measure and entirely in accordance with WTO rules.

Effective from Friday, importers of brandy originating in the EU will be required to deposit funds with Chinese customs based on dumping margins of between 30.6 percent and 39 percent, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

France accounts for 99 percent of brandy exported to China, BBC News reported.

The decision to take anti-dumping measures against EU brandy imports, came after legal investigations in response to a request by local industry, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the MOFCOM noted that the EU's anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) was initiated without an industry request. The EU's action lacked a solid factual and legal basis and clearly violated WTO rules, which was protectionist under the guise of trade remedies, the ministry said.

Jian Junbo, deputy director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, said that France should not only voice its commitment to creating a fair business environment but also coordinate with other EU member states to take tangible steps to reduce the EU's protectionist trade policies.

The European side should demonstrate greater sincerity in promoting trade fairness. If both sides can reach a consensus on this issue, it will foster the healthier development of economic relations between China and Europe, Jian told the Global Times on Friday.

Despite the competitive dynamics between China and Europe, there is still a strong demand and room for cooperation, Jian said.

China and EU will maintain consultations regarding the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EVs, after the representatives of EU member states on October 4 approved the draft final ruling on the case, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

In response to questions regarding the recent China-Europe trade disputes, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Friday said that the EU needs to see clearly that higher tariffs solve no problem and will only undermine the EU's business environment, weaken Chinese companies' confidence in investment and cooperation in Europe, reduce the competitiveness of the EU's relevant industry, and destabilize global industrial and supply chains. 

Mao called on the EU to take concrete actions and work with China to find solutions through consultation and avoid further escalation of the trade frictions.