European Trade Commissioner Peter Madelson is prepared to label China’s limitations on imports of foreign films (20 per year) as being in violation of WTO rules. From The Times:
Peter Mandelson, the European Trade Commissioner, will tell the Chinese authorities this week that the obstacles faced by European companies operating in China are “unacceptable” and violate world trade rules.
The criticism comes on the eve of a series of high-profile meetings between Chinese and European politicians and officials over the next two days, culminating in the annual bilateral summit in Beijing on Wednesday…
The European Commission estimates that €20 billion (£14.4 billion) in trade opportunities are lost every year because of politically motivated barriers and discrimination against European companies.[Full Text]
See related Reuters’ report: EU officials to talk tough on trade in China
