Memo: EU investment negotiations with China and ASEAN

The Ministers of the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) on 18 October 2013 adopted mandates which will allow the European Commission to negotiate investment agreements with China and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries (Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar/Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam).

The Council of the European Union on 18 October 2013 gave its green light to start negotiations for an EU-China investment agreement on the basis of the negotiating directives proposed by the European Commission in May 2013. It also updated a mandate allowing the Commission to open negotiations on investment protection provisions with countries of the ASEAN as part of on-going free trade negotiations.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Commission proposes to open negotiations for an investment agreement with China http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-proposes-to-open-negotiations-for-an-investment-agreement-with-china/

ESO: Background information: Council extends mandate for free trade talks with ASEAN http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-extends-mandate-for-free-trade-talks-with-asean/

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