'Landslide' EU vote result is less than it may appear
Updated: 2016-05-16 07:54
By Fu Jing(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
Members of the European Parliament take part in a voting session in Strasbourg, France, April 12, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] |
On Thursday, the European Parliament passed a resolution refusing to treat China as a market economy. The resolution, which is not legally binding, is intended to help the European Commission, the EU's executive body, make a final decision.
Out of the members present, 546 voted against treating China as market economy, 77 abstained and only 28 members voted in favor. As a result, many hailed it as a "landslide" decision.
Despite the numbers, the vote is actually not convincing at all.
First of all, trade rules, anti-dumping and cost calculations are extremely technical and, to some extent, most European Parliament members are no different from passers-by on the streets in terms of their knowledge of the issues involved.
They are prone to be influenced by biased reports (bear in mind one of the widely-circulated reports on this topic is from a think tank based in the United States) and many of them have not set foot in China. They don't know the reality of the Chinese economy or that market-oriented reforms are still being advanced.
Second, European businesses, especially those investing and trading in China won't agree with the parliamentarians who voted against market economy status for China.
Of course, some European industries that are struggling may be happy about the voting. But statistics indicate that more than 80 percent of European businesses in China are profitable. If China is not a market economy, how are those European investors managing to survive, and indeed prosper, in the increasingly sophisticated market environment there?
- EU should rethink resolution on China's market economy status
- EU lawmakers vote against recognizing China's market economy status
- Time for EU to grant China market economy status: expert
- Sooner better than later to recognize China's market economy status
- Market economy status not a bilateral negotiation
- Amid its worrying moves, EU granting China market economy status not a bilateral negotiation
- Support China to gain market economy status
- No reason to deny China market economy status
- EU can benefit by accepting China as market economy
- Global health entering new era: WHO chief
- Brazil's planning minister steps aside after recordings revelation
- Vietnam, US adopt joint statement on advancing comprehensive partnership
- European border closures 'inhumane': UN refugee agency
- Japan's foreign minister calls A-bombings extremely regrettable
- Fukushima impact unprecedented for oceans: US expert
- Stars of Lijiang River: Elderly brothers with white beards
- Wealthy Chinese children paying money to learn British manners
- Military-style wedding: Fighter jets, grooms in dashing uniforms
- Striking photos around the world: May 16 - May 22
- Robots help elderly in nursing home in east China
- Hanging in the air: Chongqing holds rescue drill
- 2.1-ton tofu finishes in two hours in central China
- Six things you may not know about Grain Buds
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |