Fifteen years after joining the WTO, China is due to be granted full Market Economy Status – or is it? And what are the implications of this change? European manufacturers worry that without anti-dumping measures, textile, steel and solar panel industries are particularly vulnerable to Chinese imports. Yet, supporters of the deal say it could open the way for EU investments in China and Chinese investments in European infrastructure. Join us to debate the economic and political dimensions of this complex issue.
We invite Reinhard Bütikofer (MEP, Vice-Chair European Parliament Delegation for Relations with China) and Luisa Santos (Director for International Relations at Business Europe, Member of TTIP Advisory Group) to discuss.
Reinhard Bütikofer
Reinhard Bütikofer has represented the German Green Party in the European Parliament since 2009. He is the Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Delegation on China. He has a long-standing personal interest in, and association with, China. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the European Endowment for Democracy.
Luisa Santos
Luisa Santos is Director of International Relations at Business Europe, which brings together European national business federations to advocate for growth and competitiveness. She was previously the chief representative for the Portuguese textile industry in Brussels, and before that was the manager for international partnerships – including a joint venture in India – for a leading Portuguese textiles company.
