AEGIS Europe paper on the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment

On 30 December 2020, the EU and China reached an agreement in principle on the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI). Back in November, AEGIS Europe raised concerns on the negotiating process and called on the European Commission to remain cautious, to be mindful of the pervasive distortions to all markets caused by China’s trade policies and the persistent problems with enforcement that result from systemic differences. In January, these concerns have been reiterated in a letter to the European Commission and a press release. Our concerns have been heightened now that the full text of the agreement has become accessible. These concerns are developed in this briefing paper, together with a number of pre-conditions needed for ratification.