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China

Will China help or hurt the AfCFTA?
7-Feb-2021 The Africa Report
African countries want to trade more with their partners on the continent – through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement that launched operations on 1 January – but will that hurt big trading partners like China?
China is readily considering joining CPTPP: commerce ministry
4-Feb-2021 Xinhua
The country is actively conducting research on joining the CPTPP, the Ministry of Commerce said.
The limits of the EU-China investment agreement
4-Feb-2021 Project Syndicate
The new EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment will eventually be judged by its implementation and the concrete steps China takes to fulfill its promises. If European firms do not perceive any improvement, and China makes no progress on labor standards, the pact might come to represent an empty gesture.
Putting the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) into perspective: Five key points
3-Feb-2021 Institute for International Trade
The CAI will not transform China into an open investment regime nor will it provide new market access opportunities for most European businesses.
Beijing expands Indian Ocean FTAs westward with Mauritius
2-Feb-2021 Nikkei Asia
China’s free trade agreement with the small island-nation of Mauritius came into effect in January, increasing the Asian powerhouse’s presence in the Indian Ocean where its regional rival India has long dominated.
Unsustainable RCEP
1-Feb-2021 The Statesman
If the latest flare ups over the contentious territorial issues and popular anti-China sentiments in the region are anything to go by, it seems likely that uncertainty over domestic ratification of the RCEP agreement by the signatory states would persist in the days ahead.
As largest FDI recipient, China improves business climate for investors
28-Jan-2021 Global Times
As its economy maintains recovery momentum, the country aims to attract foreign investors this year by encouraging investment in more industries, shortening negative lists for foreign investment, and further expanding the free-trade network.
100+ China experts and human rights activists slam “naïve” EU-China deal for “entrenching Europe’s strategic dependency on China”
27-Jan-2021 Hong Kong Watch
The open statement notes that the agreement appears not to take into account the steep deterioration of rights and freedoms in the mainland.
China, New Zealand ink trade deal as Beijing calls for reduced global barriers
26-Jan-2021 Reuters
China and New Zealand signed a deal upgrading a free trade pact to give exports from the Pacific nation greater access to the world’s second-largest economy.
China’s trade with US failed to meet phase-one deal targets last year, and 2021 is not expected to yield more success
25-Jan-2021 South China Morning Post
Analysts point to unrealistic goals in original deal with United States, and overall trade goals may continue to remain elusive in this year.
EU-China trade ties in the spotlight following news of investment pact
22-Jan-2021 IISD
The EU-China agreement-in-principle on investment includes language that would aim to prevent forced technology transfers, and describes a “positive list” approach for market access.
EU-China BIT partial text (Jan 2021)
22-Jan-2021 European Commission
EU-China investment deal lacks teeth on forced labor but could still be derailed
20-Jan-2021 Taiwan News
Potential gains not worth cost of overlooking ’blatant human rights violations’ in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, and against Taiwan’: French senator
Mining operations – Submission of request for international arbitration to Chinese government
18-Jan-2021 AsiaPhos
AsiaPhos has been in discussion with the Chinese Government (since November 2017) for a settlement in relation to the cessation of the mining activities because of the Panda Park.
CPTPP a chance for China to further integrate into Asia-Pacific
18-Jan-2021 China Daily
If both the US and China join the CPTPP, and it becomes the world’s largest free trade agreement, then the RCEP would recede in significance. CPTPP, comprising both the US and China, sensing more economic benefits in committing to the RCEP.
China to greenlight RCEP in six months
18-Jan-2021 Hellenic Shipping News
China will complete the necessary domestic approval procedures for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement within six months, the Ministry of Commerce said.
Ukraine plans to negotiate on free trade area with China, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia
13-Jan-2021 Ukraine Open For Business
Ukraine has started preparations for negotiations on new agreements on a free trade area (FTA) with Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia and China, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Ihor Petrashko has said.
EU will not ask China to sign forced labor ban before ratifying investment deal, says French minister
13-Jan-2021 Politico
France will insist on a ‘calendar’ for Beijing’s reforms instead.
China tried to punish European states for Huawei bans by adding eleventh-hour rule to EU investment deal
11-Jan-2021 South China Morning Post
Draft text shows Beijing looked to withhold telecoms sector benefits to firms from countries with restrictions on Chinese telecoms companies.
S. Korea to accelerate free trade talks with Russia - President
11-Jan-2021 UrduPoint
South Korea plans to speed up negotiations on free trade in the investment and services areas with Russia and China, President Moon Jae-in said.