Imports help EU family to yearly save €300, admits Mandelson
09 Nov '06
2 min read
Mandelson
EU Trade commissioner Peter Mandelson deliberately released some moderate views yesterday, despite his tough stance on China. He said, “I am optimistic towards China, rather than a spreader of China's threat theory.” He even quoted a research result that cheap Chinese goods help each European family save 300 euros on average per year.
As a negotiating expert from EU, Mandelson cleverly mediated with Bo Xilai, the minister of China Commerce Ministry yesterday in Beijing. Only by maintaining the friendship between the two sides that the best interest of European enterprises could be obtained, and that is the real victory for Mandelson's this visit to China.
Yesterday afternoon, Mandelson and Bo started closed-door talks. Earlier in a speech at Qinghua University, Mandelson disclosed the tone for his negotiation: China should further open up its market, combat piracy and reduce non-tariff barriers; EU would provide China with access to the full market economy status, and EU market would remain open to China.
Mandelson said that China's rise brought serious pressures over many European industries. However, regarding such phenomena as the thread posed by China was biased. He argued, “Both China and EU are responsible to improve bilateral trade relations.”
By changing the topic, he said, "China is a super-tanker going through a narrow gorge.”He said, "China's rise is forcing companies in Europe to make painful adjustments. China should bear greater responsibility on opening its market and fair trade operation."
marketing@alchempro.com
