China-EU Trade and Economic Relations (2003-2013)

The paper introduces the development of the China-EU trade and investment relations in the past ten years since the announcement of the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, analyzes the driving forces for China's trade surplus with the EU, the situation of the bilateral trade disputes, as well as the issue of the "Market Economy Status" in the bilateral trade relations. The author concludes that great changes have taken place regarding the economic strength and international positions of the two sides, as well as in the international environment in the past ten years since the establishment of China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The author also notes that despite the high growth rate of the trade volume between China and the EU, neither side has made adequate preparations for the dynamics of the bilateral trade and no efficient mechanism has been set up to lead the trends. In the future next ten years, China should try to transform the approach led by the EU, shift the passive status in the bilateral trade agenda, more focus on substance instead of forms, and construct a new way of thinking on China-EU economic and trade relations.