EU Asks China to Eliminate Ag Restrictions, 'Unjustified' Inspections

The European Union during virtual trade talks July 28 asked China for more market access for exporters and expressed concerns about its “unjustified” inspections of EU agricultural goods. China recently introduced “new restrictions” on agricultural goods due to concerns about virus contamination (see 2006300012) that have led to more customs inspections, “controls and requests for certificates on EU exports of agricultural products,” the European Commission said July 28. The EU said its beef and poultry exporters are seeing delays and are “awaiting export authorisation.”

Valdis Dombrovskis, EC executive vice president, said the two sides “need to address sticking points such as reciprocity in the way our companies are treated.” Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan called on China to “remove the existing barriers impeding access to the Chinese market.”

In a July 28 statement, China’s Commerce Ministry called the talks “candid” and said “fruitful results” were reached in discussions on investment, World Trade Organization changes and the “expansion of market opening,” according to an unofficial translation of the press release. “The two sides are willing to work together to … create certainty amidst uncertainty, enhance market confidence, and jointly promote China-EU economic and trade cooperation to a new level,” post-COVID-19 pandemic, China said.