Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 91996E1970

**WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1970/96 by Wolfgang NUßBAUMER to the Commission. Trade relations with China** 
  
*Official Journal C 365 , 04/12/1996 P. 0056*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1970/96 by Wolfgang Nußbaumer (NI) to the Commission (16 July 1996)

Subject: Trade relations with China

To what extent can the Commission oblige the People's Republic of China to comply with international agreements (e.g. on the protection of intellectual property, anti-dumping) that it has signed?

What can be done to prevent European companies suffering competitive disadvantages vis-à-vis other foreign competitors when contracts are awarded if disagreement between the European Union and China, or between individual Member States and China, gives rise to discords which threaten economic relations?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (16 September 1996)

Trade relations between the Community and China are based on the 1985 Trade and Cooperation Agreement, in which the parties commit themselves to the harmonious development of their trade. In the event of trade being disrupted, the Agreement provides for consultations between the two parties. Such consultations may, for example, take place at the regular meetings of the Joint Committee or be convened specially. In addition, the new Community Regulation on trade barriers (Council Regulation (EC) No 3286/94) ((OJ L 349, 31.12.1994, as amended in OJ L 41 of 23.2.1995. )) enables the Commission to take defensive action against restrictive trading practices by third countries and to enforce international rules on trade.

In its communication on a new long-term policy towards the People's Republic of China, ((COM(95) 279 final. )) the Commission stresses the importance of economic reform in China and proposes a range of cooperation activities to back that reform. The increasing introduction of market principles and the further opening-up of the Chinese market will cause economic considerations to play an ever greater role in the award of contracts. China's accession to the World Trade Organization is a major step in that direction.

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