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China Commerce Ministry criticises France, Germany push for stronger EU trade defence
En breve
China's Ministry of Commerce said on Oct 6 that protectionism cannot raise competitiveness and that decoupling and broken supply chains help no one, after media reports that France and Germany asked the EU to strengthen trade defence measures and add new protectionist tools. The spokesperson urged Paris and Berlin, as major economies, to stick to open cooperation, free trade and WTO rules, and not to politicise or over-securitise trade issues.
Leer la noticia completa 1 min de lectura
China's Ministry of Commerce said on Oct 6 that protectionism cannot improve competitiveness and that “decoupling and breaking supply chains” only harms others and oneself, in a spokesperson's reply to a question about reported French and German requests for a stronger EU trade defence policy. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
The question concerned media reports that on Oct 5 France and Germany submitted an informal document to the European Commission asking the EU to strengthen the use of trade defence measures and to roll out several new protectionist tools. The ministry's spokesperson said China had noted those reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In the reply, the spokesperson said “interdependence is not a risk, intertwined interests are not a threat, and open cooperation is the right path for development”. The spokesperson added that protectionism cannot improve competitiveness and that decoupling and broken supply chains “only harm others without benefiting oneself”, and expressed the hope that France and Germany, as major global economies, will uphold open cooperation and free trade and abide by WTO rules. [ 2 , 3 ]
The spokesperson also said Paris and Berlin should not encourage the EU to use protectionist tools at every turn and should not politicise and over-securitise economic and trade issues, warning against “taking the wrong path in the wrong way and ultimately backfiring on themselves”. [ 2 , 3 ]
The statement was published by the commerce ministry and carried that evening by state and business outlets, including China News Service, Xinhua, CLS and Yicai. China News Service later ran a summary of the response that led on the line that protectionism cannot raise competitiveness. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Por qué importa
The exchange touches the trade relationship between China and the European Union, two of the world's largest trading partners, and signals Chinese government concern over a possible widening of EU trade defence measures. The commerce ministry's public reply is a formal statement of position, so it frames how Chinese authorities want the reported French and German proposal to be read at home.
Datos clave
- China's Ministry of Commerce spokesperson answered a reporter's question on Oct 6 about France and Germany asking the EU to strengthen trade defence measures and introduce new protectionist tools. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- According to media reports cited in the question, France and Germany submitted an informal document to the European Commission on Oct 5. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The spokesperson said China had noted the reports and that “interdependence is not a risk, intertwined interests are not a threat, and open cooperation is the right path for development”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The spokesperson said protectionism cannot improve competitiveness and that “decoupling and breaking supply chains” only harms others and oneself. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- China expressed the hope that France and Germany, as major global economies, will uphold open cooperation and free trade and abide by WTO rules. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The spokesperson said Paris and Berlin should not encourage the EU to use protectionist tools at every turn, nor politicise and over-securitise economic and trade issues, and warned against “taking the wrong path in the wrong way and ultimately backfiring on themselves”. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- On Oct 5 France and Germany submitted an informal document to the European Commission asking the EU to strengthen the use of trade defence measures and roll out several new protectionist tools, according to media reports cited by the commerce ministry. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- China's Ministry of Commerce issued a spokesperson's question-and-answer on Oct 6 in response to those reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- The content of the French and German informal document beyond the description that it seeks stronger trade defence measures and new protectionist tools. The documents repeat the same media-reported description and give no further detail on the document's contents or scope.
- How the European Commission, France or Germany have responded to China's statement. None of the documents report any reaction from the EU side.
- The outcome for the Chinese statement's call for France and Germany to follow WTO rules. The documents state China's position only and give no indication of what follows.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- France and Germany submit an informal document to the European Commission asking it to strengthen trade defence measures and introduce new protectionist tools, according to media reports cited by China's commerce ministry. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- CLS publishes the commerce ministry's question-and-answer. [ 1 ]
- China News Service publishes the full question-and-answer, citing the commerce ministry website. [ 2 ]
- Yicai publishes the full question-and-answer. [ 3 ]
- Xinhua publishes a headline report on the ministry's response. [ 4 ]
- China News Service publishes a follow-up summary quoting the spokesperson. [ 5 ]