- Negotiations
Since 2012, China has been trying to get the European Union to agree to initiate bilateral free trade agreement talks. China is absent from both the transpacific (TPP) and the transatlantic (TTIP) trade deals and wants "in" on a similarly large pact itself in order to avoid losing out on trade flows or to have to follow new "global" standards set by others. European firms, for their part, want greater openings into China and a more even playing field with domestic companies, especially State-owned enterprises.
In March 2014, Brussels agreed that once an EU-China investment treaty is concluded it will consider broader trade talks with Beijing. The investment treaty negotiations began just a few months prior, in November 2013. Once finalised, this BIT willl replace the 26 existing BITs that China has signed over the years with individual EU member states.
The EU is China’s largest trading partner, while China is the EU’s second export market.
July 2014
Photo: European External Action Service - EEAS / CC BY-NC 2.0
2-Jan-2019
MENAFN
The EU has proposed to reform the investor-state-dispute-settlement system, a move that could further complicate negotiations with China over a bilateral investment agreement, as well as their dialogue on the Belt and Road Initiative’s implementation in Europe.
6-Dec-2018
Global Times
The new list will lay down foundations that will be conducive for further negotiations on the bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between China and the EU.
20-Jul-2018
Global Times
China and the EU are moving fast toward completing a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), given the two sides’ desire to increase their investment in each other’s markets.
29-Jun-2018
ICTSD
Officials promised to hit a key milestone in their negotiations for an investment treaty, saying that they would exchange market access offers at next month’s leaders’ summit.
1-Jun-2018
Asia Times
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tried to ease Germany’s concerns over Beijing’s cooperation with 16 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, which many European Union leaders consider a threat to the bloc’s integration, during his visit to Berlin on Thursday.
9-May-2018
Latin America Herald Tribune
The European lawmakers will discuss the recently-imposed US tariffs on steel and aluminum, the question of overcapacity, a bilateral investment agreement, market access and intellectual property rights among other topics.
15-Mar-2018
Global Times
Despite rising concerns about Chinese investment among some European officials, China and the EU are moving fast toward completing a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) and a free trade agreement (FTA), according to media reports.
2-Jun-2017
China.org.cn
China and Germany have agreed to speed up negotiations on a China-EU investment agreement so as to further enrich the two countries’ cooperation and ties.
1-Jun-2017
China Daily
European companies are hoping that a bilateral investment treaty between China and European Union can be concluded within 12 months.
28-Jan-2017
Latin America Herald Tribune
The German Chancellor wants to push forward negotiations to conclusively finalize a bilateral investment agreement between the European Union and China
