China MES: Commission to Debate China's "Licence to Dump" on 20 July

Brussels (ots/PRNewswire) -

Millions of jobs and all European manufacturing sectors at risk

On Wednesday 20 July, the College of European Commissioners will
debate the future of Europe's entire manufacturing industry when it
discusses if China should be granted Market Economy Status (MES).

"What China wants from the EU is a 'licence to dump' by treating
it the same as bona fide market economies in any EU anti-dumping
investigation. There is a serious risk that the European Commission
de facto proposes granting such a licence, either intentionally, or
not. The consequences however would be the same, regardless of
additional measures put in place. The doors would be left wide open
for an unprecedented attack on all manufacturing industries across
the European Union. This will in turn endanger millions of jobs,"
said Milan Nitzschke, spokesperson of AEGIS Europe, a grouping of 30
European manufacturing associations.

"This is not only about overcapacity in steel, it is about every
product category and technology from A such as Aluminium, to Z as in
Zero Emission Technologies. It will affect every part of the economy,
from SME sectors to those sectors with large-scale enterprises,"
warned Nitzschke.

In the EU there are 5 clear criteria that define a market economy.
These criteria are undisputed - and they existed since before China
joined the WTO 15 years ago. To date China has only met 1 of the EU's
5 criteria.

"It is imperative to relate any proposal about the calculation
methodology used in anti-dumping proceedings to the EU's 5 market
economy criteria. Without this, anti-dumping measures in the EU would
be vulnerable to challenge. Consequently investments in the EU would
fall under a cloud of uncertainty," forewarned Nitzschke.

The unfounded Chinese demand to be treated the same as bona fide
market economies, would effectively render the EU's anti-dumping
measures weak when it comes to imports from China. Furthermore, it
would disregard the fact that Chinese state-financed export prices
are well below international market prices and costs.

"To draw a comparison with sports - it is like having increased
drug testing at the Olympic Games except for Chinese athletes who
would just show a medical certificate issued by the Chinese
government," Nitzschke concluded.

ots Originaltext: AEGIS EUROPE
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Contact:
Natalia Kurop | M: +32 (0) 488 945 579 | E: info@aegiseurope.eu