Recent reports in the media indicate a warming in relations between the European Union and
China. Could this really be true? - we ask ourselves
According to the recent trade policy announcements of the European Union,
China is regarded as a new star in the EU's trade relations. The policies put the emphasis on a closer partnership between the EU and
China, instead of on tough competition.
In addition, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai, announced that they are to set up an informal group to discuss cooperation in the steel industry between the two parties.
Nevertheless, the EU is worried about the abundance of Chinese steel exports, which may soon reach overwhelming proportions, unless some precautions are taken. However,
China is also an important coke supplier for the European steel mills, and an important export destination for various European goods. Therefore, the solutions to the problems are being sought in an “amicable” way.
Meanwhile, despite the good intentions mentioned by the EU representatives and touched on in their policies,
Europe does not seem as if it will loosen measures regarding
China's iron and steel industry. The EU's antidumping duty on tubes, steel ropes, cables, and the recent antidumping investigation into Chinese silico-manganese and ferrosilicon are just some examples of evidence to this effect.