Activities of Iuliu WINKLER related to 2021/2037(INI)
Opinions (1)
OPINION on a new EU-China strategy
Amendments (17)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that in 2020 China for the first time ranked as the EU’s largest partner for trade in goods, with the trade balance further deteriorating to the EU’s detriment; recalls however that the US, followed by the UK, are still the EU’s top two partners in trade in goods and services combined;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced that the EU-China bilateral trade and investment relationship is of strategic importance and should be rules-based, with the multilateral trading system at its core; it reiterates that while economic de-coupling is not beneficial for the EU, a more assertive enforcement and adherence to commitments is necessary in the overall trade and investment relationship;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls on China to play a more active part in the WTO and other multilateral initiatives and to fully comply with its WTO obligations, matching its acquired economic power with its level of development, and urges on the Commission to step up its efforts to work together with China on reforming and strengthening the rules-based multilateral trading system; urges for a specific focus on the reform of the WTO as a key tool to bring stability and legal certainty to the international trade arena, while tackling structural shortcomings at pluri- and multilateral levels; considers pertinent to specifically discuss the negative effects and possible remedies for distortions caused by the global excess capacity of steel and aluminum, alongside the importance of tackling industrial subsidies at the WTO level;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Repeats its deep concern about the many barriers that European businesses face when accessing and operating on the Chinese market; is worried that China’s ‘dual circulation strategy’ referred to in its 14th Five Year Plan will further deteriorate the business environment for EU companies; highlights again its particular concern about the market distorting practices such as, but not limited to, industrial subsidies, the beneficial treatment of Chinese state-owned enterprises, IP theft, forced technology transfers and data localisation, industrial overcapacity in sectors such as steel and the related dumping of exports, and other unfair trading practices;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses the absence in reciprocity in public procurement and the need to improve the EU’s posturing in this field; recalls the importance of an assertive and effective International Procurement Instrument to open up external procurement markets, as well as an Instrument of Foreign Subsidies which can successfully tackle distortions on the EU internal market; highlights that these two instruments should complement one another in tackling different sides of the same coin, focusing on the external and the internal dimensions respectively;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Urges the Commission to place an increased emphasis on the issues linked to standardization and the normative elements ofa growing international competition; reminds, in this regard, of the links between, trade, patents and standards; calls on the Commission to intensify activity in all areas of standardization, IPR infringements, including patent infringements by Chinese companies in the fields of digitalization and communications, within all relevant bodies, including the UN’s International Telecommunication Union; urges for more policy discussions regarding the implications of Chinese initiatives such as Made in China 2025 or, increasingly pertinently, China Standards 2035;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Reiterates the increasing significance of the trade-security nexus in the EU’s international trade policy; urges the Commission and Member States to continue their efforts on monitoring FDI coming into Europe, particularly as concerns strategic assets and critical infrastructure, further strengthening the FDI Screening Mechanism and delivering swiftly on its commitments on an Anti- Coercion Instrument;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Underlines the importance of the EU strategic relationship with China and calls on the EU’s Member States and institutions to address China with one voice and in a coordinated way; considers that the 17+1investment format is promoted by China to weaken the EU cohesion regarding investment policy and calls for a higher degrees of transparency, coherence and coordination between Member States on matters related to bilateral investment projects and deals, particularly on FDI, where the EU has exclusive competence; draws attention to the links between economic dependencies and external political leverage at the level of Member States;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4 e. Stresses, in this context, the issues linked to strategic dependencies in the area of critical raw materials (CRMs) and the urgent need to augment the resilience of European supply chains; calls for efforts to diversify and consolidate the EU’s access to key strategic resources needed for powering the EU’s twin engines of growth, with a particular emphasis on the 30 elements present on the fourth list of CRMs updated in 2020; welcomes in this context the recently- adopted EU Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4 f. Calls for increased attention to European SMEs that engage in commercial and investment relations with China and welcomes the Commission's support for SME-friendly initiatives such as the ‘Access to Markets’ portal, the Rules of Origin ‘ROSA’ portal or the China IPR SME Helpdesk, among others;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4 g. Is convinced of the vital significance of proper information regarding legislative and regulatory developments on the Chinese market, given its opaque and state-driven nature; recalls in this context the importance of frequent and frank discussions with EU institutions, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) and all our partners on the ground;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)
Paragraph 4 h (new)
4 h. Urges China to make tangible progress towards improving its stance on sustainable development, including on climate protection and environmental- friendly production methods, corporate social responsibility, labor conditions and respect for human rights; considers important in this context concrete action towards the ratification and implementation of outstanding ILO core conventions;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the conclusion in principle, at the political level, of the EU- China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI); recalls that the CAI alone cannot solve all issues ailing our economic and political relationship, and thus has to be considered in the context of a strengthened EU toolbox of unilateral measures; underlines it will thoroughly scrutinise the agreement, with a clear focus on its benefits related to a rebalancing in market access, fair competition and level playing field, including its sustainable development section, and take stock of the human rights context, before determining its position; stresses that proper implementation and effective enforcement will be key determinants of the utility and success of the agreement in redressing structural asymmetries in the trade and investment relationship; highlights the role and relevance of structured and frequent exchanges with the office of the Chief Trade Enforcement Officer in efforts to evaluate the future implementation of the CAI; recalls and strengthens in this context the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in facilitating mutual understanding, transparent communication and frank dialogue;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Deeply regrets the unfair and unacceptable Chinese escalation of placing elected Members of the European Parliament andEuropean Union institutions entities under sanctions, as this further erodes trust and hinders bilateral cooperation; underlines that the ratification process of the CAI cannot start until the Chinese sanctions against MEPs and EU institutions are not lifted;
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Considers relevant a discussion on the wider regional trade architecture and deems it pertinent to have timely and comprehensive reports from the Commission on RCEP and the CPTPP, in order to ensure a solid situational awareness of what is evolving on the ground; is particularly interested in the implications for EU strategic interests of matters such as standard-setting in the Asia-Pacific as well as Rules of Origin provisions;
Amendment 101 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Draws attention to developments linked to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, as a key geopolitical instrument of the Chinese government; underlines that projects related to infrastructure or development financing ought to be closely monitored, including as concerns the possible negative political and geo- economic effects; highlights the need for the EU to enhance its own Connectivity Strategy, built on transparency, sustainability and accountability, as a geopolitical tool to engage with third countries in infrastructure or development projects;
Amendment 104 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Recalls, in the context of the regional dynamics, the importance of EU- Taiwan relations, the bilateral structural dialogue, including on matters related to multilateralism and WTO, technology and public health, as well as essential cooperation on critical supplies such as semiconductors; urges the Commission to move forward with the Investment Agreement with Taiwan, taking the necessary steps for a scoping exercise, impact assessment and launching a public consultation;