Market economy status for China: MEPs call for fair competition safeguards

The European Parliament's plenary session held a debate on 10 May 2016 with the European Commission regarding the decision of giving China a market economy status.

MEPs considered that China was not a market economy on EU criteria. The debate centred on how the European Union should counter any unfair competition from China after 11 December 2016, when its World Trade Organisation (WTO) access protocol foresees changes in its treatment in trade defence investigations.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: MEPs want 'WTO-proof' plan to protect EU firms against dumped Chinese imports http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-meps-want-wto-proof-plan-to-protect-eu-firms-against-dumped-chinese-imports/

ESO: Background information: China And Europe [What Think Tanks Are Thinking] http://www.europeansources.info/record/china-and-europe-what-think-tanks-are-thinking/

EurActiv, 11.05.16: European Parliament unites against Chinese MES http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/european-parliament-unites-against-chinese-mes/

EUObserver, 11.05.16: MEPs: China is not a market economy https://euobserver.com/economic/133396

The Guardian, 12.05.16: European parliament gives China a black eye over trade status https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/may/12/european-parliament-denies-china-equal-trading-rights

EurActiv, 12.05.16: EU lawmakers reject granting China the market economy status http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/eu-lawmakers-reject-granting-china-the-market-economy-status/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 12.05.16: China’s proposed market economy status: defend EU industry and jobs, urge MEPS http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160504IPR25859/

EurActiv, 17.05.16: China dubs European Parliament vote against market status ‘unconstructive’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/china-dubs-european-parliament-vote-against-market-status-unconstructive/

EurActiv, 19.05.16: Germany and France team up to tackle Chinese dumping http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/germany-and-france-team-up-to-tackle-chinese-dumping/

Politico, 30.05.16: EU shifts against lower trade barriers with China http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-shifts-against-lower-trade-barriers-with-china/

VoteWatch Europe, 31.05.16: The European and national politics behind China’s market economy status http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/the-european-and-national-politics-behind-chinas-market-economy-status/

EP: EPRS: Topical Digest, May 2016: China's MES debate http://www.europarl.europa.eu/EPRS/TD_MES-China.pdf

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