Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce Answers Questions on Media Reports That Relevant EU Member States Are Pushing the European Commission to Create an EU Version of the "Section 301" Tool

Q: Recently, some media reported that some EU member states are working on a joint paper calling on the European Commission to accelerate the development of an EU version of Section 301 to take tougher measures against China. What is Chinas comment? A: China has noted the reports. The tool mentioned in the reports is a typical protectionist and unilateral measure. It not only does not help solve the problem, but also backfires on oneself, and will disrupt China-EU trade and the stability of global industrial and supply chains. The EU was once a victim of such tools. Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you. As an important member of the WTO, the EU always claims to be a defender of multilateralism. If it fails to lead by example and instead takes the lead in violating WTO rules, it will deal a severe blow to the rules-based multilateral trading system. At the moment, China and the EU are having ongoing dialogue under the trade and investment consultation mechanism to discuss solutions to each others concerns. If the EU, while having dialogue and consultation with China, continues to ratchet up rhetoric against China, it will severely undermine mutual trust, disrupt the overall consultation process and affect the broader picture of China-EU economic and trade cooperation. China urges the EU to stay on the right track of managing differences through dialogue. China will closely follow the EUs next move. If the EU is bent on introducing discriminatory restrictive measures against Chinese companies or products, China will make a firm response and defend the lawful rights and interests of Chinese industries.