Advertisement
‘China needs new playbook’ to counter EU’s tougher trade and investment rules
- Potential strategies include tightening Beijing’s own legislation, finding areas for joint projects and offering more market access to European firms, academic says
- Chinese companies also need to be aware that a range of incentives and tax breaks could be considered state subsidies, he says
3-MIN READ3-MIN
59
China needs to find new ways to cope with tighter scrutiny of foreign investment in the European Union in response to perceived threats from Beijing, a Chinese academic has cautioned.
Tongji University assistant professor Hu Zinan also suggested that Beijing try to rally “friendly” EU member states to “speak out” on China’s behalf and toughen its own legislation to counter potential fallout from the EU’s new trade and investment restrictions.
“More importantly, [China] should deepen cooperation with Europe to stop the tendency of Europe and the United States to align their economic and trade policies towards China,” Hu said in an analysis of the EU’s latest economic and trade defence tools in Pacific Journal, an academic magazine.
Advertisement
He said potential areas for cooperation included construction of undersea cables and infrastructure programmes in Africa.
China could also offer more market access to European companies “to further bind European economic interests … so that the EU and European companies will not blindly follow the US in countering China”.
03:36
Beijing hits back at Western sanctions against China’s alleged treatment of Uygur Muslims
Beijing hits back at Western sanctions against China’s alleged treatment of Uygur Muslims
Hu’s suggestions come as the two trading powers are caught in disputes over human rights, economics and trade.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x