BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its interests and the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises if the European Union (EU) insists on imposing discriminatory restrictions on Chinese products, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday.
Ministry spokesperson Huang Ling made the remarks at a regular news conference in response to media reports that the EU is considering extending the understanding reached between China and the EU on hybrid vehicle trade to other sectors such as chemicals.
Imposing artificial barriers to normal trade may violate World Trade Organization rules and would not help improve the competitiveness of EU industries. Instead, such measures would place a heavier burden on downstream industries, pushing up inflation in the EU and undermining the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains, Huang said.
Huang said the second meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism, held recently, made positive progress and yielded a number of agreed outcomes, showing that both sides have the willingness, ability and wisdom to properly manage their economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation.
China has repeatedly stressed that it is a partner in addressing the problems facing the EU, rather than the source of those problems, Huang said, adding that China is willing to strengthen dialogue and consultation with the EU, continue exploring solutions to each other's economic and trade concerns, and promote upward balancing and forward progress in China-EU trade.
China firmly opposes any protectionist practices involving the abuse of trade defense instruments, Huang said. ■
