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Parliamentary question - E-003773/2017Parliamentary question
E-003773/2017

Restrictions on access to the Chinese market

Question for written answer E-003773-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández (S&D) , Inés Ayala Sender (S&D)

Many sectors in Europe are feeling the impact of increasing restrictions on access to the Chinese market. This is particularly true for the European rail supply industry. While the EU is largely open to competitors from third countries which are expanding rapidly into Europe, particularly those from China, only 22% of the Chinese rail market is accessible to European suppliers in the period 2016-2018. This is due in particular to discriminatory policies, such as joint venture requirements or forced technology transfer, protectionist measures and non-transparent procurement rules.

Negotiations for an EU-China Investment Agreement, which were launched in 2013, represent an opportunity to address these barriers and establish a level playing field between the respective markets. In the context of the negotiations:

How is the Commission addressing market access issues?

How will it ensure reciprocal market access in order to avert the risk of job losses and safeguard industrial expertise in Europe?

Is it taking steps to persuade the Chinese Government to sign up to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits?