Comments on EU-China Summit: outcome
/Brussels, 10 April 2019. AEGIS Europe has issued a Press Release on the EU-China Summit, held in Brussels the 9 April to comment the main outcomes of the meeting as well as the content Joint Statement issued by Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker, and Li Keqiang (Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China).
Some important references to the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO, fight against unilateralism and protectionism, and commit to complying with WTO rules have been made:
“The EU and China firmly support the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, fight against unilateralism and protectionism, and commit to complying with WTO rules.”
The two sides reaffirm their joint commitment to co-operate on WTO reform to ensure its continued relevance and allow it to address global trade challenges. To this end, both sides will intensify the discussions with the aim of strengthening international rules on industrial subsidies, building on the work developed in the Joint EU-China working group on WTO reform. Both sides will also continue to exchange views on other mandated WTO issues.
Further to that, the two sides welcome the work so far in the EU-China Joint Working Group on WTO reform. Both sides also agreed to continue working to resolve the crisis in the WTO Appellate Body and build convergence on other areas of WTO reform. Both sides agree that there should not be forced transfer of technology. The two sides support the work of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on reform of the investment dispute settlement system and will engage cooperatively in that process.”