As the world’s second largest economy and with an ever-expanding domestic market, including a growing wealthy middle-class with a taste for high-quality products with foreign labels, China is an opportunity European businesses and investors cannot afford to ignore… But it’s a difficult market to access! And not a very fair nor transparent one… So, what is the EU doing to achieve a real level playing field for EU investors in China?

EPRS policy podcast - EU - China: International Agreements in Progress

Interview with Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, EP President 2004 - 2007

The story of the EP by its Presidents: Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, EP President 2004 - 2007 - 17. China

The EU and China are comprehensive strategic partners. Each year, the leaders of EU and China meet in the format of the EU-China Summit . The Summit is prepared through a network of bilateral high-level dialogues. These include the EU-China Strategic Dialogue between the EU High Representative/Vice President and the State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China.&nbsp;

The European Union and China are two of the biggest trading partners in the world. The EU is committed to open trading relations with China and wants to ensure that China trades fairly, respects intellectual property rights, and meets its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue was launched in 1995.&nbsp;Parliament strongly condemned in the past&nbsp;the Chinese government-led system of forced labour – in particular the exploitation of Uyghur, ethnic Kazakh and Kyrgyz, and other Muslim minority groups – in factories within and outside internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The&nbsp;European Parliament&nbsp;is addressing China's export restrictions, particularly on critical raw materials like rare earths, through policy and legislation. Its approach includes strengthening the EU's internal supply chain with initiatives like the Critical Raw Materials Act, diversifying external sources through strategic partnerships, promoting a circular economy to reduce reliance on new materials.&nbsp;

EU - China

On 1 and 2 October, EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss foreign affairs, in particular relations with Turkey and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The leaders are also expected to address relations with China, the situation in Belarus and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. The single market, industrial policy and digital transformation are also on the agenda

The summit, initially planned for 24 and 25 September, has been postponed as President Michel is in quarantine.

Special European Council, 1-2 October 2020

MEPs from the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee travel to Beijing and Shanghai to discuss digital and e-commerce challenges and fostering fair EU-China competition. MEPs are expected to convey the EU’s stance on digital regulation and safe markets, particularly regarding breaches of EU law and the high-volume of non-compliant small parcels coming from China.

In Shanghai, MEPs continue discussions on compliance with EU digital market rules and fair competition with Temu. They also gain firsthand insight into China’s customs controls and import/export activities at the strategic Pudong International Airport, together with the China Customs Administration and a local logistics company.

IMCO delegation to Shanghai (China)

MEPs from the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee travel to Beijing and Shanghai to discuss digital and e-commerce challenges and fostering fair EU-China competition. MEPs are expected to convey the EU’s stance on digital regulation and safe markets, particularly regarding breaches of EU law and the high-volume of non-compliant small parcels coming from China.

In Beijing, the delegation meets with political leaders, including Shen Chunyao, Chairperson of the Standing committee of the National People’s Congress, and Luo Wen, Minister of State Administration for Market Regulation. MEPs also visit the EU Chamber of Commerce to discuss online trade and market access challenges faced by European companies in China. The delegation discusses consumer and product safety standards with the e-commerce giants Shein and Alibaba.

IMCO delegation to Beijing (China)

EU-China relations

In a debate with Council and Commission, MEPs outline their expectations for the upcoming EU-China summit, set to take place in China in July and which will mark 50 years of bilateral diplomatic relations. They will also discuss how to tackle China’s critical raw materials export restrictions. Plenary will vote on a resolution on the latter on Thursday.

Plenary debate on the expectations for the upcoming EU-China summit

The Parliament discusses China’s military provocations close to Taiwan, and vote on a resolution. China’s military exercises around Taiwan have become increasingly frequent in recent years. MEPs criticise the recent manoeuvres in the Taiwan Strait and express their solidarity with Taiwan as a regular victim of foreign information manipulation and interference by China. 

In a resolution adopted in December 2023, MEPs said the EU’s ‘One China policy’ has not changed and that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, particularly by means of force or coercion, is not acceptable. They also opposed China’s constant distortion of UN Resolution 2758 by demanding that Taiwanese passport holders, including journalists, NGO workers and political activists be barred from accessing tours and events in the UN. Resolution 2758 was adopted by the 26th U.N. General Assembly in 1971 to address the issue of China's representation at the UN.

People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan

INTA - Public hearing ' Trade and investment relations with China: navigating risks and opportunities '

IMCO Delegation to China - Day 3, Shangai

IMCO Delegation to China - Day 2, Beijing

IMCO Delegation to China - Day 1, Beijing

EP Plenary session - Effective use of the EU trade and industrial policy to tackle China’s export restrictions

EU-China Inter-Parliamentary Meeting

EP Plenary session China’s unjustified decision to impose duties on imports of pork products from the EU, and the need to support European farmers and workers

EP Plenary session - EU - China relations

Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA, DE), IMCO Chair and Chair of the IMCO Delegation to China, makes a statement at the end of the mission of the IMCO Committee. The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Delegation to Beijing and Shanghai (China) aims to understand China’s leadership in e-commerce, gain first-hand insight into how Chinese customs and logistics systems operate and its influence on consumer behaviour and market trends.

IMCO mission to Shanghai (China): statement by Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA, DE), IMCO Chair and Chair of the Delegation

This news item shows extracts from the meeting of the IMCO Delegation with China Customs Administration (Shangai Pudong Customs House).

IMCO mission to Shangai (China) - Meeting with China Customs Administration (Shangai Pudong Customs House) Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection: extracts

This News item shows extracts from the meeting of the IMCO Delegation with Temu. The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Delegation to Beijing and Shanghai (China) aims to understand China’s leadership in e-commerce, gain first-hand insight into how Chinese customs and logistics systems operate and its influence on consumer behaviour and market trends.

IMCO mission to Shangai (China) - Meeting with Temu: extracts

This News item shows extracts from the meeting with the Chinese logistics Limeng International Logistics Company and a statement by Dirk GOTINK (EPP, NL), Rapporteur on the EU Customs Reform. The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Delegation to Beijing and Shanghai (China) aims to understand China’s leadership in e-commerce, gain first-hand insight into how Chinese customs and logistics systems operate and its influence on consumer behaviour and market trends.

IMCO mission to Shanghai (China) - Meeting with the Chinese logistics Limeng International Logistics Company: extracts and statement by Dirk GOTINK (EPP, NL), Rapporteur on the EU Customs Reform

The European Parliament’s IMCO delegation, during its mission to Beijing, engages in a discussion with fast-fashion giant SHEIN - China-based e-commerce platform known for its direct-to-consumer model, rapid production cycles, and significant market presence in the EU including Tony Ren, Co-Founder of SHEIN and Chief Risk Officer. This is the first Parliamentary delegation to China in eight years and an important opportunity to address shared digital and e-commerce challenges and foster fair EU-China competition.

IMCO mission to Beijing (China) - Meeting with SHEIN: extracts

This video shows extracts from Meeting with members of the EU Chamber of Commerce. This is the first Parliamentary delegation to China in eight years and an important opportunity to address shared digital and e-commerce challenges and foster fair EU-China competition. The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Delegation to Beijing and Shanghai (China) aims to understand China’s leadership in e-commerce, gain first-hand insight into how Chinese customs and logistics systems operate and its influence on consumer behaviour and market trends.

IMCO mission to Beijing (China) - Meeting with members of the EU Chamber of Commerce

The European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) delegation, as part of its official mission to China, holds a high-level meeting at Alibaba Group’s Beijing headquarters to discuss digital trade and regulatory cooperation. Following the session, Andreas Schwab (EPP, Germany), former rapporteur for the Digital Markets Act (DMA), and Christel Schaldemose (S&D, Denmark), former rapporteur for the Digital Services Act (DSA), deliver statements.

IMCO mission to Beijing (China) - Meeting with Alibaba: extracts and statements by Andreas SCHWAB (EPP, DE) and Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Members of the delegation and former rapporteurs on DSA and DMA

This video shows extracts from the meeting between IMCO Delegation and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and Luo Wen, Director of the State Administration for Market Regulation. The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Delegation to Beijing and Shanghai (China) aims to understand China’s leadership in e-commerce, gain first-hand insight into how Chinese customs and logistics systems operate and its influence on consumer behaviour and market trends. This is the first parliamentary delegation to China in eight years and an important opportunity to address common digital and e-commerce challenges and foster fair competition between the EU and China.

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