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EU Lawmakers Urge China Talks to Prevent Trade War
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Economy & Trade

EU Lawmakers Urge China Talks to Prevent Trade War

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • European Parliament members visiting China emphasize the need for negotiation to avoid a trade war with Beijing, a crucial partner.
  • They acknowledge significant trade imbalances but stress that unilateral measures would trigger retaliatory actions.
  • Chinese officials reportedly attribute trade issues to market dynamics rather than protectionist practices and suggest using WTO dispute resolution mechanisms.

European Union lawmakers visiting China are prioritizing diplomatic channels to avert a trade war with Beijing, recognizing China as a vital partner with considerable resilience. Spanish MEPs Nicolás Pascual de la Parte and Javi López stressed the importance of exhausting negotiation possibilities before considering any retaliatory measures.

We want to exhaust the negotiation possibilities before taking retaliatory measures. We do not want a trade war, we want to avoid it.

— Nicolás Pascual de la ParteEmphasizing the EU's preference for negotiation over confrontation.

"We do not want a trade war, we want to avoid it," stated Pascual de la Parte. López echoed this sentiment, warning that "any unilateral measure in the commercial sphere will entail a mirror unilateral measure against you." He further noted the potential for escalation against a country with whom the EU has intense relations and significant capacity to withstand pressure, partly due to its public opinion dynamics.

Any unilateral measure in the commercial sphere will entail a mirror unilateral measure against you.

— Javi LópezWarning about the consequences of unilateral trade actions.

Despite acknowledging what López described as an "unsustainable imbalance" in trade, Chinese authorities, according to Pascual de la Parte, believe the issue stems from market dynamics rather than Chinese protectionist practices. "They think... it is not due to Chinese protectionist practices but to market dynamics and that, therefore, they have no fault," he reported after meeting with high-ranking Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

They think... it is not due to Chinese protectionist practices but to market dynamics and that, therefore, they have no fault.

— Nicolás Pascual de la ParteRelaying the Chinese government's perspective on trade imbalances.

López added that Chinese officials suggest that if the EU has criticisms or disputes, they should be brought before the World Trade Organization (WTO). He expressed concern about the "far-reaching consequences" for European economies and politics, urging Chinese authorities to be "imaginative" in finding solutions. Pascual de la Parte also noted that Beijing dislikes the EU labeling it a "systemic rival," preferring to be seen as a partner, and suggested China's ultimate goal might be to decouple the US from Europe and foster closer ties with the EU.

The Chinese authorities' response is 'we apply the rules of the World Trade Organization; take me there if you have criticisms, concerns, or disputes to resolve'.

— Javi LópezDescribing China's stance on resolving trade disputes through international bodies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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