- Negotiations
Washington and Beijing began formal negotiations towards a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) in June 2008. A year later, the highly sensitive talks were halted until July 2013. The US is interested in getting Chinese restrictions on foreign ownership in about 100 sectors — from soybean oil and automobiles to life insurance and other financial services — lifted for US companies which want to expand their market presence there. The Chinese government is interested in getting more security for highly-scrutinised Chinese investments in the US and its massive holdings of US sovereign debt ($1.3 trillion).
In late 2013, China agreed to initiate talks on a possible BIT with the European Union as well.
July 2014
4-Apr-2016
The Fiscal Times
Chinese officials have missed their own deadline to submit a new offer for a proposed investment treaty that would shrink the number of sectors closed to American investors
29-Mar-2016
Economy Watch
Chinese officials announced that a US-China bilateral investment treaty (BIT) is close to being signed.
23-Jun-2015
Xinhua
Talks on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) will be high on the agenda during the upcoming annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) between China and the United States in Washington, D.C. and the two sides could seize the opportunity to finalize the deal before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office in January 2017, U.S. experts said.
21-Apr-2015
Xinhua
The US government has outlined key infrastructure, important technology and national security into its negative list where Chinese investment would not be not allowed under the proposed US-China Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)
20-Apr-2015
Xinhua
China and the United States are expected to exchange negative lists of bilateral investment treaty (BIT) "this month or next month," which could pave the way for substantial achievement on the negotiations in this regard in September, China’s Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao said Friday.
9-Mar-2015
CRI
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has announced the text of a bilateral investment treaty with the United States has been completed.
31-Dec-2014
Reuters
The United States plans to step up negotiations with China for a treaty to free up investment flows, the Obama administration said on Tuesday
18-Dec-2014
Xinhua
China and the United States are finalizing text checks on a bilateral investment treaty and will formally exchange negative lists at the beginning of next year
17-Dec-2014
Bloomberg
China has told traders and officials that it approved lifting a ban on imports of a genetically-modified corn variety that’s commonly grown in the US as trade talks between the two countries begin today.
13-Nov-2014
Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with visiting US President Barack Obama in Beijing on Wednesday, and both agreed to speed up efforts to reach a bilateral investment treaty.
