21st September 2012

EU-China summit talks mostly about economic issues

 

The 15th summit with China, held on 20 September 2012 in Brussels, dealt mostly with economic and environmental issues. Today, the EU is the biggest destination for China's exports and the second supplier to China, after Japan. For the EU, China is the second trading partner, after the United States, but very close to the level of the USA. However, Germany is the only economy out of whole EU27 that has been able to maintain a trade surplus with China. The biggest deficits with China have been registered in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy and France.
Economic debate was mainly connected with the Euro zone crisis. The talks focused on the development in troubled economies, the impact of structural reforms as well as on new plans of banking union and other measures projected by the ECB.
Environmental issues were also discussed in detail. Both sides signed a financing agreement promoting the environment, transition towards a low-carbon economy and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in China. However, one of the most crucial issues – Chinese dumping practices in solar industry – has not been discussed publicly.

The 15th summit with China, held on 20 September 2012 in Brussels, dealt mostly with economic and environmental issues. Today, the EU is the biggest destination for China's exports and the second supplier to China, after Japan. For the EU, China is the second trading partner, after the United States, but very close to the level of the USA. However, Germany is the only economy out of whole EU27 that has been able to maintain a trade surplus with China. The biggest deficits with China have been registered in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy and France.

Economic debate was mainly connected with the Euro zone crisis. The talks focused on the development in troubled economies, the impact of structural reforms as well as on new plans of banking union and other measures projected by the ECB.

Environmental issues were also discussed in detail. Both sides signed a financing agreement promoting the environment, transition towards a low-carbon economy and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in China. However, one of the most crucial issues – Chinese dumping practices in solar industry – has not been discussed publicly.

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Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic