Mutual trust between the European Union and China will be undermined if the European side conducts separate price commitment talks with certain Chinese firms while engaging in general negotiations with China concerning electric vehicles (EVs), a spokesperson with China's Commerce Ministry said Monday. The EU's insistence on separate talks with the relevant Chinese firms will also disrupt the overall negotiation process and add more administrative costs to follow-up implementation and supervision of price commitment agreements, the spokesperson stated.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Commission Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis held a round of talks via video link on Friday.
The European Commission said in its news release that the negotiations between the EU side and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) do not exclude discussions with individual Chinese car exporters.
China made it clear in the talks that the CCCME had been fully authorized by different types of Chinese enterprises to put forward a price commitment plan that represents the overall position of the industry, the spokesperson said.
On this basis, China and the EU have conducted several rounds of consultations with a lot of efforts made and some progress achieved, the spokesperson said.
With the next phase of talks already launched, China hopes that the two sides will build on previous consultations and accelerate the negotiation process, so as to secure substantive breakthroughs as soon as possible, the spokesperson added.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-nation EU, is set to impose countervailing duties of up to 35.3 percent on EVs imported from China, additional to the EU's existing 10 percent tariff on imported cars, following a qualified majority vote on Oct 4.
EU's separate EV price commitment talks with Chinese firms will harm mutual trust: official
African buyers are gathering at the 136th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, in south China’s Guangzhou, drawn by competitive pricing and high-quality Chinese products, while exploring new business opportunities that they can take back to their home countries.
Themed "Serving high-quality development, Promoting high-level opening-up", the latest edition of the long-running trade show is running in three phases from Oct. 15 through to Nov. 4, and features more than 30,000 exhibitors showcasing 1.15 million new products.
As Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, China has long been favored by African businesses, and the Canton Fair has been serving as a key platform to facilitate this relationship. On average, the past five editions of the Canton Fair have welcomed around 14,000 African buyers to visit on-site, with around 95,000 participating online.
Among the many attendees is Nigerian architect Fadillah, who is visiting the fair for the first time. In the past, she had to coordinate with third-party suppliers to buy products from the fair, but visiting in person allowed her get an up-close look at the many products on offer and access a wider selection.
"It's better for me to see. I prefer to see, and touch, and feel [the products], then I collect contacts, and I buy. I do business with them," she said.
As she surveyed many of the eye-catching ‘Made-in-China’ items which are taking center stage at the fair, Fadillah said she especially values the design and quality of the Chinese products on display.
"I think it's the concept, it’s different. There's something about it (that) is different. The design and the texture, the feel, the material," she said.
She said her experience at the Canton Fair has far exceeded her expectations, even rating it ‘100 out of 100,’ and saying she has gained many valuable business connections and contacts.
"When I came, I was very impressed. And I was very happy to be here because I'm making contact, I'm getting to meet people, getting to see ideas I've never thought of. So it's giving me opportunities, sort of like [how to] create businesses even back home," said Fadillah.
Another first-time visitor from Nigeria, a buyer named Aldine, also hailed the vast market potential and favorable prices available.
"The prices, individually, they are actually fair. Compared to, if you have to buy from Europe, it's cheaper to buy from China," said Aldine.
Inspired by what she has seen at the fair, she said she hopes her home country can also seize more opportunities wishing that her country can expand trade with China, and foster better development.
"Personally, I want to see my country grow, like (how) China is growing. So if (trade) is open my people will get (more) work, jobs to do, you understand, and then strengthen our cooperation between the Chinese government and Nigerian government," she said.
Launched in 1957 and held twice yearly, the Canton Fair is considered a major gauge of China's foreign trade, as it not only brings together new products, technologies, and services, but also serves as a platform for the exchange of new ideas.
African buyers eye up Chinese products at Canton Fair
