16+1': Promises and pitfalls for EU-China trade negotiations in the context of one belt one road cooperation

• Author: Teodora-Maria Chihaia
• Position: Teodora Chihaia is a master student at Koguan Law School, Shanghai JiaoTong University - China
• Pages: 39-50

LESIJ NO. XXVI, VOL. 1/2019

”16+1”: PROMISES AND PITFALLS FOR EU-CHINA TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

IN THE CONTEXT OF ONE BELT ONE ROAD COOPERATION

Teodora-Maria CHIHAIA

Abstract

This brief pr esentation aims to increase the understanding of international trade negotiations

between China – Central a nd Eastern Europe region a s well as Europe thr ough the framework of One

Belt One Road ( OBOR ) cooperation, with a focus on the legal perspective regarding the rule of law

conditionalities, EU external tra de relationship on the basis of r espect for rule of law and the

restora tion of trust towar d the creation of new rules.

Keywords: China – CEE cooperation, Eur ope, OBOR, interna tional negotiations, rule of law,

integration, diplomacy, bilater al relations, tr ade and investment.

1. International Trade Negotiations

between EU and China

The current growing global tensions,

increasing protectionism and geopolitical

unpredictability offers a prospect for the EU

and China to demonstrate their shared

commitment to conquering protectio nism

and safeguarding rule - based multilateral

trading system for sustainable economic

growth and prosperity1.

The EU and China ha ve much in

common as they are the most externally

 Teodora Chihaia is a master student at Koguan Law School, Shanghai JiaoTong University – China. Former

Economic Affairs Intern of United Nations ESCAP ( Asia-Pacific Headquarters located in Bangkok, Thailand). She

is also member of the World Youth Leaders Union – a non-profit NGO allying outstanding youth leaders

organizations and individuals from all over the world to build a global platform for youth leaders to exchange,

cooperate and promote the healthy sust ainable development of human economy and society (e-mail:

chihaia_t@yahoo.com). China – CEE cooperation, partnership established in Warsaw, 2012 with the purpose of

strengthening and facilitate the implementation of OBOR project along with 16 participant countries : Poland, the

Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia plus Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and all the post-Yugoslavian states: Croatia,

Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovenia, followed

by the three Baltic states - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

1 Anna Saarela, A new era i n EU – China relat ions: more wide-ranging strategic coopera tion? , Policy

Department for External Relations, European Union, 2018, p. 4.

2 Alicia G. Herrero et. all, Intr oduction to EU – China economic rela tions to 2025. Building a common future.

Chatam House, London, 2017, p. 2.

3 Alicia G. Herrero, op.cit., p. 2.

ТntОРratОНă ОМonomТОsă аТtСă tСОТră GDP’s

ranking number 2 and 3 in the world, as well

asă bОТnРă ОaМСă otСОr’să larРОstă sourМОă oПă

imports and second largest exports

destination2. Therefore, both powers should

consider whether deepening their economic

relationship could bring mutual benefits in

terms of dr iving economic growth, creating

jobs and improving levels of social fare3.

The EU is commited to develop

trading relationships with China that are

governed by fair trade, respect of intellectual

property rights and in accordance with WTO

regulations. When China joined the WTO in