EU strength and weakness facing China

During July 2016 the EU made important statements within days of each other on two key issues in its relationship with China. One concerned the granting of Market Economy Status (MES) to China, which was widely expected to follow China’s completion in December 2016 of a 15 year transition period at the WTO. The other was a response to the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling against China in a dispute with the Philippines over territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Coming so soon after the existential shock of the Brexit referendum, the two statements werer an important signal of EU solidarity and resilience. But the large differences between them also highlighted the relative strength and weakness of the European Union itself.

ESO: Background information: College orientation debate on the treatment of China in anti-dumping investigations http://www.europeansources.info/record/college-orientation-debate-on-the-treatment-of-china-in-anti-dumping-investigations/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on EU strategy on China http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-conclusions-on-eu-strategy-on-china/

ESO: Background information: Permanent Court of Arbitration: The Republic of the Philippines v. The People’s Republic of China. The South China Sea Arbitration http://www.europeansources.info/record/permanent-court-of-arbitration-the-republic-of-the-philippines-v-the-peoples-republic-of-china-the-south-china-sea-arbitration/

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