Comprehensive Agreement On Investment (Cai)

The EU and China began negotiations on the IAC in 2014. The European Commission carried out an impact assessment in 2013. Between 2015 and 2018, an impact study on sustainable development was carried out to assess the potential economic, social and environmental impact of the agreement. Access to financial markets under the First Phase Agreement The Financial Market Agreement, concluded in November 2019 and entered into force from 2021, is an important step in EU-China trade cooperation, as when it comes into force, it will bring reciprocal trade benefits and make consumers aware of quality products guaranteed on both sides. Finally, the EU-China agreement on China`s accession to the WTO (19 May 2000) concluded that, although China would maintain the 50-50 ceiling, China would offer a legal guarantee to avoid prudential interference in private contracts between life insurance joint venture partners. China immediately granted seven new licences for European life and life insurers. In addition, insurance activities were opened to foreign companies two years earlier than in China`s China-U.S. WTO accession agreement, and foreign brokers were allowed to operate in China five years after accession, without any joint venture requirement. It should be noted that an additional list of 175 geographical indications will be protected by both parties within four years of the agreement`s entry into force. Despite the complexity of the Chinese market, the vagueness of its legal framework and the differences between foreign and domestic firms, the World Investment Report 2019, published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), found that China remains the world`s second largest recipient of foreign direct investment after the United States, followed by Hong Kong. Mrs Vanderstraeten`s presentation will give you an overview of these investment negotiations, what investments are they, what are the building blocks of this agreement and, above all, what it actually contains for you? In other words, how will the EU deal with the concrete problems and barriers to market access that you face in the Chinese market? How will the EU address issues such as investment caps, forced joint ventures, forced or illegal technology transfers, discrimination against foreigners, monopolies (SOE), licensing restrictions and other everyday problems facing EU industry in China?