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  1. Negotiations

China

China actively seeks bilateral trade and investment deals outside of the World Trade Organisation. The government has put priority on forging agreements with neighbouring countries of Asia, but also many other countries on whom it relies for minerals, energy, food, infrastructure or geopolitical support.

Beijing has signed bilateral trade agreements with ASEAN (2002), Hong Kong (2002), Macau (2003), Thailand (2003), Niger (2005), Chile (2006), Pakistan (2006), New Zealand (2008), Peru (2008), Singapore (2008), Costa Rica (2010), Taiwan (2010), Switzerland (2013), Iceland (2014), Australia (2015), Korea (2015), Georgia (2017), Maldives (2017) and the Eurasian Economic Union (2018). China is also a party to 127 bilateral investment treaties.

China is currently in bilateral negotiations with the European Union (investment), the Gulf Cooperation Council, Israel, Mauritius, Moldova, New Zealand (to upgrade the current agreement), Norway, Pakistan (upgrade), Singapore (upgrade), the Southern African Customs Union and Sri Lanka, as well as with Japan and Korea for a possible a three-way deal. Further down the horizon, there is talk of eventual negotiations with Canada, Chile (upgrade), Colombia, Fiji, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Palestine, Panama, Peru (upgrade), Switzerland (upgrade) and Uruguay.

Regionally, China has proposed a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, an initiative that would encompass the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation nations, in direct rivalry with US-led projects like the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But that intitiative is currently on hold.

China is currently part of the talks on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). RCEP is a mega-regional trade agreement proposed by the Association of South East Asian Nations with its FTA partners : China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

If concluded, it would give Chinese corporations market access to India — in goods, services and investment — that it does not have through its own FTAs.

China also sees RCEP as a key element of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an infrastructure project meant to link Asia with Europe, passing through Africa, and with an extension to Latin America.

China is also using the BRI to push more countries to sign free trade agreements to consolidate the trade and investment leverage that the project opens up.

last update: June 2018
photo: Eddie / CC BY-ND 2.0

China established nine FTAs in past five years
9-Feb-2006
China has established nine free trade areas (FTA) with different partners during the "Tenth Five Year Plan" period (2001-2005), covering one fourth of China’s total foreign trade, according to Ministry of Commerce.
More FTAs established in past five years
29-Jan-2006
The past five years has witnessed China’s readiness to establish free trade areas (FTAs) with various trade partners, according to sources with the Ministry of Commerce.
Trade deal sought with Arab states
25-Jan-2006 Hong Kong Standard
China wants closer ties with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, and is working toward a free-trade agreement with countries in the region, according to Premier Wen Jiabao.
China, GCC conclude third round FTA negotiation
24-Jan-2006 People’s Daily
The third round of free trade area negotiation between China and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) was concluded recently in Beijing.
China, Mali sign economic cooperation agreement
15-Jan-2006 CRI
China will take further steps to encourage investments in Mali, while Mali will strive to increase the direct export of cotton and other products to China.
China willing to negotiate FTA with African countries, organizations
12-Jan-2006 Xinhua
China is willing to negotiate Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with African countries and African regional organizations when conditions are ripe, according to China’s African Policy Paper issued Thursday in Beijing. The paper, the first of its kind, said the Chinese government encourages and supports Chinese enterprises’ investment and business in Africa.
China : Mainland to negotiate FTA with 27 nations: Bo Xilai
3-Jan-2006 Fibre2fashion.com
After remaining silent during the WTO meeting in Hong Kong, December 2005, China has decided to focus on the bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) and play a lead role in multilateral trade discussions during the year 2006.
GCC chief expects free trade talks with China to end soon
18-Dec-2005
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdul Rahman al-Attiya said here on Sunday that he hoped talks between the GCC and China on a free trade agreement will be concluded soon.
China to begin FTA deals with trading partners from next year
17-Dec-2005
China will honour its free trade area (FTA) agreements with its trading partners, levy negotiated tariffs on some Indian goods and will also offer special preferential tariff rates to about 30 least developing countries next year, finance minister Jin Renqing said.
China, Pakistan harvest ties
10-Dec-2005
Pakistani mangos and oranges will be imported into China at zero tariff from January 1, 2006, while Chinese-made textile machinery and organic chemicals will enjoy free duty in Pakistan at the same time.

    Links

  • Belt and Road Initiative and human rights
    FIDH’s webpage that aims to collect and share information regarding the human rights and environmental impacts of China’s Belt and Road Initiative projects in recipient countries across Asia.
  • China FTA Network
    Official website on China’s FTAs, maintained by MOFCOM