27 Amendments of Helmut SCHOLZ related to 2010/2301(INI)
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU is the top destination for Chinese exports, which rose by 39.5 % between 2009 and 2010, and whereas China is the EU's second-has surpassed the USA as EU's largest trading partner in July 2011;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the EU has replaced Japan as China's largest source of import; whereas growing Chinese imports have been crucial for the recent economic performance of export oriented EU member states like Germany;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas the shift of production of numerous consumer goods to China has eliminated many jobs in the European Union; whereas this shift was also accompanied by drastic price reductions which made many of these consumer goods affordable for European Union households with an income, and has contributed to a relatively low inflation environment;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas economic growth in Europe is weak at an estimated 0.5 % in 2012, but strong in China at around 9 %; whereas in September 2011, according to the IMF the European Union had a GDP per head of 30,455 Dollar, while China had reached a GDP per head of 8,394 Dollar;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the undervaluation of the yuan creates artificial trade advantages for China and whereas G20 member countries have promised to facilitate greater exchange rate flexibility; whereas China allowed its currency to appreciate nearly 20 % against the dollar from 2005 to 2008, halted the rise in 2008 out of concern for the impact of the global downturn on its export-oriented economy, but resumed appreciation since 2010; whereas among Chinese officials the idea of exchange rate policy as a tool against inflation has recently regained momentum;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. Whereas many goals described in the EU2020 strategy and in the 12th 5 year plan are similar and provide for enhanced co-operation;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to apply the principle of reciprocity in the EU's common trade policy with developed and emerging countries such as China, in order to ensure a level playing field where all forms of protectionism are avoidedunjustified protection measures are avoided; considers certain safeguard measures for economic sectors endangered by rapid shifts in international trade patterns, as well as protection against social or environmental dumping as justified and necessary;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes the strengthening of economic relations between the European Union and China; calls on the EU and on China to foster this relation based on partnership and mutual benefits instead of fierce competition and confrontation;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Welcomes the positive effects of China's membership in the WTO and calls on the Commission to strengthen its co-operation with China in order to establish a more efficient and fair international trade system;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the Chinese economy does not fulfil the criteria of a market economy as defined by the WTO; calls on the Commission to cooperate with the Chinese government in order to eliminate the obstacles standing in the way of market economy status; emphasises that this status should only be accorded once China has fulfilChina strives for recognition of its economy as a market economy as defined by the WTO; observes, however, the remaining differences between the Chinese economy and the economy of the European Union; recognises the specific needs of the Chinese economy at the country's current state of development and respects the right of the Chinese peopled these criteriao chose their own path of development; asks the EUCommission to carry out regular assessments, in the form of an annual report, of China's compliance with the obligations included in its protocol on accession to the WTO;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets the existence of numerous tariff and several unjustified non-tariff barriers to the Chinese market, such as certain forms of discrimination against foreign operators, particularly in the banking, insurance and telecommunications sectors, the complexity of the tariff structure and technical barriers to trade such as the lack of transparency of technical rules and conformity assessment procedures or the Chinese Compulsory Certification System (CCC); notes that China, contrary to the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM), does not systematically give notification of specific subsidies;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes that new studies established that foreign investors operating in China account for nearly 80 percent of goods imported from China to Europe; calls on the Commission to monitor this situation and not to subsidise relocation of business and production from Europe to China; calls on the Commission to bring forward legislation that is binding European investors in China to respect European environmental and social standards in order to avoid dumping;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned about the problems foreign businesses encounter in accessing Chinese public procurement whereas access to European public procurement is guaranteed; regrets that China has not acceded to the plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement (AGP) even though it committed to do so in its protocol on accession to the WTO; callsNotes that China agreed along with 42 other countries to the new principles of the WTO GPA, considers the Chinese GPA offer as a decent approach while noticing that it lacks behind the degree of openness of the European Union public procurement market; takes positive notice onf the Commission to make haste in developing a European instrument to ensure better access for European businesses to foreign public procurement markets and to encourage the EU's trad's proposals in its 2011 green book on modernising public procurement rules in the EU, ing partners, such as China, to open up their public procurement markets and eliminate protectionist measuresicular with regard to the role public procurement can play in achieving goals in environmental protection and local job creation;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the some forms of export credits granted by the Chinese and European Union and Member States' authorities and banks promote trade distortions at large scale; calls therefore on Chinathe parties to comply with the OECD Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits; calls on the Commission to assist OECD efforts to involve China in this Arrangement; encourages China to also become a signatory to the OECD Anti- Bribery Convention;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that the main form in which foreign companies are allowed to set up in China is through joint ventures – a mechanism which is very restrictive and too often associated with strategic technology transfers thatof managed economic opening successfully applied by other countries as well, as it often brings along strategic technology transfers much needed for sustainable development and growth patterns of reduced climate relevant emissions; notes that this may favour the competitive development of China sometimes to the detriment of European industry in fields in which the EU is at the forefront; acknowledges that it is the free choice of European enterprises whether to enter into a joint venture or not and that many of these joint ventures have proven to operate very profitable;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the EU to make use, wherever necessary, of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, and of trade defence instruments that are consistent with WTO rules, such as anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard measures, in the event of illegal trade practices by Chinatrading partners in order to ensure a level playing field for EU-Chifair and rules-based international tradeing system;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Deplores the inadequate protection of IPR in China and regrets the lack of specific means available to European businesses, and particularly SMEs, to counter IPR infringements effectively; welcomestakes note of the Commission's decision to proposer a review of the directive on the enforcement of IPR; wantelcomes China to continue's efforts to transpose current international law on the protection of IPR into its national legislation, and more specifically to combat counterfeiting, and urges the Chinese authorities to apply it correctly; regrets that China is not taking part in the negotiations on the next international agreement to combat counterfeiting (ACTA)correct application of the new legislation; regrets that the European Union and a handful of other governments have negotiated an international agreement to combat counterfeiting (ACTA) only amongst themselves instead of finding a multilateral solution including China as a negotiation partner; urges the Commission and the Member States to step up customs cooperation in the EU and with third countries, particularly on the seizure of counterfeit goods, and to simplify customs procedures;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that because other mines were closed or exploration not yet concluded, China produces today 97 % of the rare earths used in the world and calls on it to guarantee the fair and sustainable supply ofsustainable production methods and fair market access to these rare earths to its trading partners; calls on the Commission to pay particular attention to any potential restrictions by China on the export of its raw materials; recalls in this context the WTO ruling of 5 July 20011 against China for having placed restrictions on the export of certain raw materials and that China has challenged this decision; calls on the Commission to develop a European strategy for the proper management of raw materials involving increased energy efficiency, recycling, lower use of resources and the development of industrial cooperation in the green economy growth sectors;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. UrgesTakes note that the Commission is preparing to negotiate an ambitious EU- China investment agreement that seeks to create a better environment for EU investors in China whilst increasing the level of Chinese capital flows to the EU; insists that any draft mandate for such negotiations must take into full consideration the demands from the European Parliament report on the future of European international investment policy; reiterates that investment agreements shall not undermine future democratic political decision making processes;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Points outWelcomes that China holds sovereign debt of Member States in the eurozoneis supporting Member States inside and outside the eurozone in times of dire financial crisis by means of foreign direct investment and to an extend by purchasing sovereign debt bonds; stresses that this fact has taken on a new political dimension as a result of the serious debt problems within the eurozonein the EU-China partnership; calls on the Commission to start discussions with the ECB and Member States on the creation of a coordinated system to identify which private and public parties hold sovereign debt; wonders about the EU's capabilities in trade negotiations with China in view of the latter's much needed and welcomed contribution to the financial stabilisation of the eurozone;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises that the chronic undervaluation and non-convertibility of the yuan give Chinese exports an unfair competitive advantage, whenile making imports more costly for China and contributing to high inflation in China; notes that the fact that China holds one- third of the world's foreign exchange reserves makes the country very vulnerable to the effects of possible economic downturns in Japan, North America or Europe; points out that economic stability and global trade is at risk unless there is a strengthening of international financial regulations and macroeconomic coordination between G20 countriamong IMF member states; calls on China to allow the yuan to appreciate to reach an appropriate exchange rate; points out that it is laid down intakes well note of the Chinese proposal to re-adjust the Ecuropean Treaties that the EU can, inrency basket of the IMF special drawing rights to the casrole of unsustainable global monetary imbalances, adopt an exchange rate policythe big emerging economies and their currencies;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Asks the EU to develop a strategy to avoid compulsfor a fair EU-China partnership fory technology transfers and joint research programmes; calls on the EU and its Member States to increase by far investment in education, universities and research and development; seeks, in this respect, the rapid conclusion of the enhanced cooperation procedure for the Community Patent;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises China's growing influence in the theatre of international trade; calls on the EU therefore to remain vigilantmake stronger efforts to co-ordinate European and Chinese activities in developing countries concerning their economic, social and environmental impact of; notes that increasing Chinese investment in developing countries, particularly in Africa is perceived locally both as a threat and as a reduction of dependence from EU, Japan and USA;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Deplores that Chinese investment and assistance activities in developing countries are not subject to international standards in environmental and social impact assessment;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Encourages governments of resource rich countries to take advantage of the new competition situation on international markets and to negotiate the best agreements in the interest of their people;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17 c. Is worried by the impact of new Chinese consumption patterns and investment practises along with European and US American bio-fuel policies on food prices in developing countries; calls for an EU-China initiative for regulatory approaches regarding land sales and acquisitions, which currently occur to the detriment of farmers and food security in developing countries;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Urges the EU to strengthen its economic, budgetary, fiscal, social and political governance to give it a credible and imposing voice on the international stage; calls on the Council and the Commission to speak with one voice in order to prevent partnerships and bilateral agreements weakening the EU position; urges the EU to implement a long-term strategy with regard to China;