Sometimes there is only a year between success and failure. It was only on 30 December 2020 that an illustrious round of high-ranking politicians gathered for the video call to finalize the China-EU Investment Agreement (CAI). German Chancellor Angela Merkel, China’s President Xi Jinping, President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European […]
The European Commission has imposed countervailing duties on aluminum converter foils from China. Chinese manufacturers must now expect import surcharges of 16 to around 47 percent, the EU Commission announced on Wednesday. Aluminum converter foils are particularly important for manufacturers of EV batteries and the EU packaging industry. The decision was preceded by an EU […]
German business representatives are taking an increasingly critical stance in the trade conflict between Lithuania and China, thus also increasing the pressure on Berlin. The Federation of German Industries (BDI) is now accusing Beijing of scoring a “disastrous own goal”. “China’s latest measures against Lithuania are having the effect of a trade boycott with repercussions […]
Although China’s New Year is in February, preparations are already in full swing in the People’s Republic. In Loudi, in the province of Hunan, several red lanterns are hung for drying to light up the Year of the Tiger.
China’s “Queen of Livestreaming” must pay a fine in the millions for tax evasion. Blogger Viya, whose real name is Huang Wei, was ordered to pay ¥1.3 billion (€180 million), Reuters reported Monday, citing China’s tax authorities. She is alleged to have misreported her income in 2019 and 2020, among other things. The 36-year-old publicly […]
In international politics small events can grow into big problems. First the government of Lithuania underestimated how seriously China takes even small provocations with reference to Taiwan. Now the car industry and the German government are in an uproar. China is refusing to import parts from the major supplier Continental if they contain components from […]
The newly elected Czech government is taking a more proactive approach toward Beijing than its predecessor: Prime Minister Petr Fiala chose China-critic Jan Lipavský as foreign minister for his cabinet. The 36-year-old from the Czech Pirate Party had already called the People’s Republic a “danger to the Czech Republic” before taking office, according to media […]
The US government has added eight more names to its investor and supplier blacklists. Among them is DJI, the world leader in commercial drones. The company is accused by the Biden administration of involvement in the repression of the Uyghurs. The companies now banned are part of the “Chinese military-industrial complex”, two people familiar with […]
Lithuania has recalled its remaining diplomats from China over security concerns. Audra Čiapienė, Lithuania’s interim chargé d’affaires in China, returned to Vilnius on Wednesday for consultations, the Financial Times (FT) reported. She had been the EU state’s top diplomat in Beijing following the recall of Lithuania’s ambassador in August. All other officials had also left […]
China’s new food import regulations will come into force as planned on January 1st despite criticism from Washington and Brussels. Imports of foodstuffs into the People’s Republic will have to comply with new registration, inspection, and labeling requirements from 2022, according to China’s customs authorities. The announced measures cover a wide range of products from […]