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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’s South America free-trade deal to have ‘clear impact’, but may irk US by seeking opportunities in its ‘backyard’
13-Feb-2023 South China Morning Post
The election of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president of Brazil has raised the possibility of a free-trade deal between China and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur).
China willing to accelerate FTA talks with Nicaragua: senior official
13-Feb-2023 Global Times
China is willing to accelerate comprehensive FTA negotiations with Nicaragua, promoting bilateral development in deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.
Why a China-GCC free trade agreement might be a game changer
6-Feb-2023 The National
It would open up opportunities in sectors such as renewables, technology, manufacturing and tourism, analysts say.
China-Gulf states free trade pact high on agenda
1-Feb-2023 China Daily
Foreign Minister Qin Gang called for a China-Gulf free trade zone to be established as soon as possible in a telephone conversation with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
China hints free trade deal with Mercosur
11-Jan-2023 Valor
China says it is ready to negotiate a free trade agreement with Mercosur or separately with any partner of the bloc.
Ecuador reaches trade deal with China, aims to increase exports, Lasso says
4-Jan-2023 Reuters
Ecuador President said the country has sealed a free trade deal with China, an agreement expected to increase exports and boost growth in the South American country’s industrial sector.
PNG, China talk trade
23-Nov-2022 The National
PNG Prime Minister and Chinese President agreed that a free trade agreement must be concluded at the very earliest that would secure both nation’s interest so that trade and commerce happened within this realm.
Chinese President seeks to speed up talks on free trade deal with South Korea
16-Nov-2022 UrduPoint
Chinese President told his South Korean counterpart about the need to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement between the two countries and increase bilateral cooperation in high-tech manufacturing.
China and El Salvador begin negotiations for a free trade agreement
10-Nov-2022 MSN
The Chinese and Salvadoran authorities announced that they have begun negotiations to achieve a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries "as soon as possible".
China’s bid to join digital economy pact hinges on clarification of data laws, experts say
7-Nov-2022 South China Morning Post
A special task force has been set up to negotiate China’s membership application for the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement but Beijing must clarify data laws if it wants to negotiate carve-outs that allow it to maintain digital sovereignty, experts say.

    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