EU and China set for further investment talks as end-of-year deadline for deal looms
- The latest round follows straight on the heels of ‘intensive’ talks between the two sides last week
- Negotiators hope to reach agreement by the end of the year, but issues such as market access remain a stumbling block
The talks come on the back of the 35th round of negotiations that finished last week, which the EU ambassador to China Nicolas Chapuis described as “intensive”.
He said further progress had been made on sustainable development, market access and institutional provisions in the talks conducted over video link.
“The negotiations will continue this week,” Chapuis said. “We are committed to the end-of-the-year deadline but prioritise substance over speed. More efforts are still needed to push the remaining issues over the finishing line.”
According to a brief statement posted by China’s Ministry of Commerce on Monday, the two sides made positive progress on the text of the treaty and the remaining problems. The statement did not elaborate and was little changed from previous statements.