EU China Research Articles

The negotiation of EU–China comprehensive agreement on investment and its potential impact in the post-pandemic era

ABSTRACT The negotiation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) between the EU and China has convened over 34 rounds in the last seven years. The CAI, when finally established, will constitute a historical first, unprecedented in being the most detailed and important agreement between the EU and China ever. It is expected that both parties will bring negotiations to a close with the signing of the agreement either by the end of 2020 or not long thereafter. This paper presents an overview of these negotiations, with an assessment of its potential impact on bilateral investment and economic cooperation between the two parties. Consequentially, the further elimination of investment and trade barriers between China and Europe should lead to the steady recovery and growth of the global economy in the post-pandemic era.

Hedonic valuation of country of origin in the Chinese dairy market

The implicit value to Chinese consumers of the country-of-origin (COO) characteristic of dairy products is of great importance to estimate. This study adopted the hedonic price model to evaluate the shadow price of the COO attribute of both UHT fluid milk and infant formula collected from the five leading e-commerce platforms (Alibaba’s Tmall Supermarket, Jingdong, Suning Purchase, COFCO I buy nets, and Yihaodian) in China. The target countries were Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Spain from the EU, and Australia and New Zealand from Oceania. The results show that the implicit values of the COO of UHT fluid milk and infant formula are reversed. Having a COO of Spain and Germany decreased the price of UHT fluid milk compared with China, while Germany, New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, and Spain all earned a price premium on infant formula. The B2C platforms Yihaodian, Jingdong, Alibaba’s Tmall Supermarket and Suning Purchase all earned a price premium above COFCO I buy nets. These findings have important implications for dairy industry of EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, and China in terms of the promotion of domestic dairy products. Moreover, this study contributes to the existing body of literature by innovating in employing sales data from e-commerce scanners to study the implicit value of food attributes.

Byproduct Surplus: Lighting the Depreciative Europium in China's Rare Earth Boom.

Europium (Eu) is often regarded as a critical mineral due to its byproduct nature, importance to lighting technologies, and global supply concentration. However, the existing indicator-based criticality assessments have limitations to capture Eu's supply chain information and thus fall short of reflecting its true criticality. This study quantified the flows and stocks of Eu in mainland China from 1990 to 2018. Results show that: (1) China's Eu demand decreased by 75% from 2011 to 2018, as a result of the lighting technology transition from fluorescent lamps to light-emitting diodes, which significantly reduced Eu's importance; (2) the supply of Eu mined as a byproduct kept increasing together with the growing rare earth production, which caused a substantial supply surplus being ≈1900 t by 2018; (3) despite the leading role of China in global Eu production, Eu mined in China was exported mainly in the form of intermediate and final products, and ≈90% Eu embedded in domestically produced final products was used for export recently. This study indicates that Eu's criticality is not as severe as previously assessed and highlights the necessity of material flow analysis for a holistic and dynamic view on the entire supply chain of critical minerals.

EU Common Security and Defence Policy and China: a case study of coopetition

With the 2019 EU–China Strategic Outlook, the EU has revalidated its dual perspective on China as cooperation partner and strategic competitor at the same time. So far, considerations of China in EU and EU Member States have primarily focused on economic questions. However, as China‘s foreign policy becomes more assertive and visible via military deployments in the EU‘s geopolitical neighbourhood, the EU needs to confront this challenge by giving appropriate and concrete political responses in a geostrategic context as well. Based on the concept of „coopetition“, this article provides an analysis and subsequent recommendations on how the EU can integrate the “China factor” in its Common Security and Defence Policy, while ensuring that a balance of cooperation and competition in EU’s China policy is retained

Inversely Correlated? Comparing EU-27 and Chinese Exports to South Africa, 2007-2018

Against the background of literature that assumes mutual exclusivity of European and Chinese access to African markets, this article conducted an assessment of European and Chinese exports to South Africa over the 2007–2018 period. Findings indicate that Chinese exports to South Africa have not supplanted total EU exports to South Africa, unlike the case with the country’s other previous leading trade partners; however, in this timeframe, China’s rate of growth has outgrown that of Europe, and some products which were principally sourced from the EU were subsequently exported more by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), indicating that if the present trajectory continues, China will replace Europe as the principal export partner of South Africa within little over a decade. The onset of Brexit, with the UK being a key trade partner for South Africa within the EU, will expedite this trend by diminishing the gap between EU and PRC exports to South Africa. EU–South Africa relations, China–South Africa relations, EU–China relations, Trade

Reconfiguration of Geopolitical Strategies in Trump’s Era: The Impact of American Political Leadership’s Idiosyncrasies on the Traditional Transatlantic Relations

The International System is traversing a challenging stage in its evolution. The United States should carefully consider the risks of an idiosyncratic leadership and closely work with their European partners, securing a world order based on the norms of multilateralism and democracy. Still, the US President Donald Trump unveils an approach based on emotional and synchronous elements. As a matter of consequence, the EU is considering other geopolitical alternatives to accomplish its goals and deliver the best outcome to the people it serves and for global prosperity. The paper investigates the very specific psychological factors influencing Trumpian political thinking and justifying his corresponding foreign policy decisionmaking processes, in the current transatlantic environment. By contextual examples, the analysis reveals the sensitivities and flaws in applying a subjective, belief-based approach of international (bilateral) relations. We put things into a broader perspective, by analysing the implications of such political behaviour patterns for the international liberal order, in the circumstances of the more and more prominent geopolitical triangle: the EU–China–the US.

The role of Green Public Procurement in Circular Economy policies: An international comparison

The new paradigm of the Circular Economy-CE appeared in the last decades as a response to the growing demand for sustainability, understood as a way to balance both economic, and environmental and societal aspects. Circular Economy, indeed, could change the traditional economic model, typically called Linear Economy. Within this transition, Green Public Procurement could help the developed economy worldwide to reach this goal. The paper is an international comparison on the main features of GPP policies within the CE framework of a sample of EU countries, China, Japan, and USA. The research was carried on combining interviews with experts and desk research. The main evidence is that EU and Eastern countries are leading countries in CE policies. Regarding GPP implementation, differences emerge within Europe, especially in federal states. Besides this, China, and USA suffer a not-organic regulation approach. Concluding, authors suggest to deep the barriers and drivers on GPP by international comparison with different regional contexts with a higher number of informants. This could help both policymakers and academia for further development of public policies.

Agree or Agree to Disagree: China–EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) Negotiation and the ISDS Reform

Agree or Agree to Disagree: China–EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) Negotiation and the ISDS Reform

Narrating the China Threat: Securitising Chinese Economic Presence in Europe

Abstract This article unpacks the discursive construction of a European ‘China Threat’ narrative by European think tanks. We theorise think tanks as crucial actors in the securitising process, especially at the initial stages where ideas and reference frames are formed. Despite having no decision-making authority, think tanks participate as securitising actors in the process of idea formation and bidding, articulating a securitised frame of reference for policy makers. In the case of EU–China relations, we observe an emerging congruence between think tanks and policy makers that engage in a non-linear construction of a ‘China Threat’ policy frame. In this article, we review key think tank reports that are circulated through official EU policy channels and deconstruct the assumptions behind the ‘China Threat’ discourse. We first argue that, analytically, their securitising attempt is characterised by a distorted representation of Chinese economic activities abroad, including those falling under the Belt and Road Initiative. Second, politically, this narrative produces a distorted notion of European politics where pluralism is weakness and disagreement dissent, promoting a view of the EU where ‘responsible’ core countries must contain the periphery’s ‘opportunism’. Third, we contend that despite defending ‘Europeanness’ as the epitome of human rights and democracy, the securitisation of Chinese FDI rests on othering practices that risk undermining those very ideals. By identifying the problematic undertones of this securitising effort, we call for a fact-based and pluralistic debate on the challenges of Chinese investment and financing for European economies and societies.

Development of Single and Externally Integrated Transport Area in Central Asia

Competently built strategy for development of international transport corridors passing through the countries of Central Asia ensures economic development of not only the states located in this region, but also of other countries participating in transportation processes. At the same time, the practices of development of international transport corridors reveal several problems which comprise inconsistency of regulatory acts of the parties involved, differences in technical standards, lack of uniformity of railway gauge, duration of customs clearance. The objective of the work was to study transport corridors of Central, Western and South Asia and the existing infrastructural, organizational, and technological limitations for their development. The methods of economic, statistical, and engineering analysis were used. The research has considered problems in development of international transport corridors and possible solutions there-of through organization of intermodal transportation by a single transport operator of Uzbekistan, as well as the current state of transport corridors linking Central, Western, South Asia and China with the EU countries, including development of China–EU railway corridors. In that context, the article suggests the analysis of several legal, organizational, technological factors , as well as of infrastructural restrictions using the example of the Kashgar (China)–Osh (Kyrgyzstan) railway section, prior to construction of which it is proposed to use intermodal transportation. The proposals refer to creating the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) transport and logistics association and to developing the design of universal wagons with variable gauge wheel sets adapted for operation on railways of various gauges.

The EU’s ‘strategic partnership’ with China in a post-Brexit world: Recalibrating internal dynamics and facing up to external challenges

The UK has played a critical role in shaping EU–China relations. Policymakers need to carefully consider the extent to which Brexit will weaken the EU’s collective power – shifting the balance in China’s favour – and impact prospects for increasing EU involvement in East Asia. Brexit arrives at a moment when negotiations for an ambitious bilateral investment agreement continue – with an eye on an eventual free trade agreement – while EU policymakers increasingly perceive challenges arising from the expansion of China’s global presence, exemplified by the Belt and Road Initiative, the creation of alternative international institutions, and its behaviour in the South China Sea disputes. As both the EU and China emerge as global powers, the significance of their relationship’s trajectory extends beyond bilateral confines. I analyse how the relationship’s contemporary dynamics are playing out and likely to evolve. Assessing the impact of Brexit on the relative power balance, specifically the EU27’s collective economic, military and political power, sets the scene for mapping out the ‘state of play’ in four crucial issue areas, highlighting the UK’s preferences and input. This leads to consideration of how the loss of resources and shifting constellation of preferences among the EU27 could affect the attainment of strategic objectives. I argue that while Brexit does not fundamentally disrupt the EU–China relationship, it will weaken the EU’s capacity to respond to China’s rise and necessitates a recalibration to the new constellation of Member State preferences and reduced resources.

Energy-Efficient Innovations: Marketing, Management and Law Supporting

This paper summarises the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue of promotion energy-efficient innovations by marketing, management and law supporting. The innovative development is considered to be an essential condition to provide a high level of social and economic development. Thus, energy-efficient innovations are considered to be among the most critical drivers of qualitative economic growth and increasing the country’s competitiveness in the world market. Systematisation literary sources and approaches for solving the problem of promoting energy-efficient innovations indicated that government and scientists give the powerful punch in energy-efficient development. In view of this, it is appropriate to do the bibliometric research on publication activity on energy-efficient innovation from law aspect. The primary purpose of the study is to analyse the structure and dynamic of scientific publications in the field of energy-efficient legislation in the economic subject areas. The object of study is the chosen publications indexed in the Scopus database by keywords such as: «energy-efficient innovations», «energy law», «environmental legislation», «energy-efficient policy» in the category «title, abstract, keywords». The current study involved data from 1913 papers published on 13 languages in the subject area «Business. Management and Accounting» and «Economics, Econometrics, and Finance» from 2000 to 2019. Using VOSviewer, bibliometric analysis of publications on the issue of energy-efficient legislation was conducted from the view of the publication activity dynamic, considering the most impact articles, and countries in the issues of energy-efficient legislation researches. According to the obtained results, the increasing dynamic of publication activity from 2000 to 2019 was detected. Furthermore, it was visualised four clusters of countries’ collaborations by co-authorship as follows: 1) between the USA, the EU countries (including the United Kingdom) and China; 2) the EU countries, as well as South American such as Brazil and Chile; 3) African countries and the EU countries; 4) between Asian and African countries. Furthermore, the authors highlighted the most influencing articles in the field of energy-efficient innovations that could be the basis for future investigations promoting innovative activity in the field of energy-efficient development. Keywords bibliometric analysis, energy-efficient innovations, environmental legislation, energy policy, Scopus, VOSviewer.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Service Trade: Empirical Evidence from China and the European Union

This study examines the factors affecting the cost of service trade between China and the countries of the EU. The costs between China and EU member states from 2005 to 2017 are measured using the improved gravity model. On the basis of relevant theories, the influencing factors system of service trade cost is constructed, and a dynamic panel model is used to conduct empirical analysis. The empirical results can be summarized into four aspects. First, the costs of service trade between China and EU member states has shown a general trend of gradual decline and there is still room for further decline. Second, the costs of trade in services between China and developed EU countries are lower, while those between China and undeveloped EU countries are higher. Third, service restriction, economic development levels and infrastructure have a greater impact on the cost of bilateral trade in services. Lastly, there are differences in influencing factors of service trade cost among countries with different levels of economic development.

PBI65 ASSESSMENT OF WILLINGNESS TO PAY IN A RAPIDLY INCREASING BIOLOGICS MARKET FOR RESPIRATORY DISEASES

With the advent of numerous biosimilar and branded launches, the future respiratory disease landscape is expected to become increasingly crowded in a short span of time. The objective of the study was to assess the willingness to pay (WTP) for novel biologic treatments launching in this crowded landscape across different markets. In-depth interviews (n=50) were conducted with leading clinicians and payer archetypes in the US, Germany, France, Italy, China and Japan, to understand what the WTP for a novel biologic would be, in the context of the future availability of lower-cost alternatives. Despite being an area of significant unmet need particularly for refractory patients, across all geographies, time to market and the ability to differentiate (targeting high unmet need patients, treatment of comorbidities) will be the key drivers of WTP for new entrants. In the US, non-differentiated treatments will likely require aggressive contracting with step-through preferred brands likely. In the European markets, non-differentiated treatment options are likely to have significant restrictions to access, with poorer HTA outcomes negatively influencing WTP. In China, the WTP is harder to predict due to lack of public reimbursement of biologics in this space, with treatment cost currently being the primary driver of treatment choice due to high out-of-pocket payments. The impact of biosimilar entry is expected to have the highest downward pressure on prices in EU countries (medium) and China (medium/high), with low impact in the US and Japan. Clearly differentiated biologics treatments will benefit from a higher willingness to pay, in particular if first to market. However, there is expected to be a downward pressure on price exerted by biosimilar entry in some markets.

Reclaiming the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Through the EU–China Partnership and Cooperation Agreement: Taking Stock and Moving Forward

This chapter traces the evolution of the EU–China strategic partnership, explores the role of a PCA in this partnership, and investigates major challenges facing the two parties for its successful conclusion. This chapter will focus on two dimensions of the proposed partnership: political and security; trade and economy. In the context of the political and security dimension, this chapter addresses the troubling relationship between sovereignty and human rights and the EU’s call for China’s collaboration in building a rules-based international order and advancing effective multilateralism. In the trade and economic dimension, this chapter examines China’s pursuit of MES and the EU’s demand for a transparent, open and predicable regulatory environment in China. This chapter then points to the difficulties in issue linkages or human rights prioritisation in the PCA negotiations, and probes whether a comprehensive investment agreement (CAI) constitutes a satisfactory alternative to the PCA.

The New Silk Road: connecting China to Europe. Opportunities and new trends in rehabilitation?

International Journal of Therapy and RehabilitationVol. 26, No. 10 EditorialThe New Silk Road: connecting China to Europe. Opportunities and new trends in rehabilitation?Massimiliano PolastriMassimiliano PolastriEmail: E-mail Address: [email protected]Physiotherapist, Medical Department of Continuity of Care and Disability, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Orsola University Hospital, Bologna, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorMassimiliano PolastriPublished Online:4 Nov 2019https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2019.0133AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View articleREFERENCESDelegation of European Union to China. EU–China 2020 strategic agenda for cooperation. 2013. https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/20131123.pdf (accessed 19 October 2019) Google ScholarDe Soyres F. The growth and welfare effects of the Belt and Road Initiative on East Asia Pacific countries. MTI Practice Notes. World Bank Group. 2018. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/896581540306960489/pdf/131211-Bri-MTI-Practice-Note-4.pdf (accessed 19 October 2019) Google ScholarJones A, Skinner MA. The current status of physical therapy in China. Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2013;28(6):493–501. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-1242.2013.06.003 Google ScholarWorld Health Organization. Regional Office for the Western Pacific. China–WHO country cooperation strategy 2016–2020. 2016. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/206614/WPRO_2016_DPM_003_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (accessed 19 October 2019) Google ScholarWorld Health Organization. Towards a health silk road. 2017. http://bit.ly/32SFfvB/ (accessed 19 October 2019) Google ScholarWorld Health Organization. Classifying health workers: mapping occupations to the international standard classification. 2019. https://www.who.int/hrh/statistics/Health_workers_classification.pdf (accessed 19 October 2019) Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 2 October 2019Volume 26Issue 10ISSN (online): 1759-779X Metrics History Published online 4 November 2019 Published in print 2 October 2019 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download

Building University-Industry Co-Innovation Networks in Transnational Innovation Ecosystems: Towards a Transdisciplinary Approach of Integrating Social Sciences and Artificial Intelligence

This paper presents a potential solution to fill a gap in both research and practice that there are few interactions between transnational industry cooperation (TIC) and transnational university cooperation (TUC) in transnational innovation ecosystems. To strengthen the synergies between TIC and TUC for innovation, the first step is to match suitable industrial firms from two countries for collaboration through their common connections to transnational university/academic partnerships. Our proposed matching solution is based on the integration of social science theories and specific artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. While the insights of social sciences, e.g., innovation studies and social network theory, have potential to answer the question of why TIC and TUC should be looked at as synergetic entities with elaborated conceptualization, the method of machine learning, as one specific technic off AI, can help answer the question of how to realize that synergy. On the way towards a transdisciplinary approach to TIC and TUC synergy building, or creating transnational university-industry co-innovation networks, the paper takes an initial step by examining what the supports and gaps of existing studies on the topic are, and using the context of EU–China science, technology and innovation cooperation as a testbed. This is followed by the introduction of our proposed approach and our suggestions for future research.

Evolution of methane emissions in global supply chains during 2000-2012

Reduction of methane emissions (CH4) plays an important role in addressing global climate change. Most previous studies have focused on the direct CH4 emissions of economies, but overlooked the upstream CH4 emissions along global supply chains induced by the final consumption of economies. Using a global multi-regional input-output analysis, this study aims to explore the evolution of CH4 emissions embodied in international trade and final consumption in major economies during 2000–2012. The results show that China, the EU, USA, India and Brazil were the top five economies with high volumes of consumption-based CH4 emissions from 2000 to 2012. In particular, China’s consumption-based CH4 emissions showed an observable growth trend, while the EU, the USA and Japan showed a downward trend. It’s estimated that growing amounts of CH4 emissions (i.e., the volume increase from 77.1 Mt in 2000 to 95.9 Mt in 2012) were transferred globally via international trade, primarily as exports from China, Russia and other large developing economies to consumers in major developed economies. Russia–EU, China–USA and China–EU formed the main bilateral trading pairs of embodied emission flows. Further analysis found that per capita consumption-based CH4 emissions was closely related to their per capita GDP. Quantifying the CH4 emissions embodied in trade and final demand of major economies can provide important basis for understanding economy-wide emission drivers to design global and regional CH4 reduction scheme from a consumer perspective.

Inhibition of African swine fever virus infection by genkwanin

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the causative agent of an economically important disease of pigs for which no effective vaccines or antiviral drugs are available. Recent outbreaks in EU countries and China have highlighted the critical role of antiviral research in combating this disease. We have previously shown that apigenin, a naturally occurring plant flavone, possesses significant anti-ASFV activity. However, apigenin is practically insoluble in highly polar solvents and it occurs typically in derivative forms in plants. Here we screened several commercially available apigenin derivatives for their ability to inhibit ASFV Ba71V strain in Vero cells. Among them, genkwanin showed significant inhibition of ASFV, reducing viral titer from 6.5 ± 0.1 to 4.75 ± 0.25 log TCID/ml in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 2.9 μM and SI = 205.2). Genkwanin reduced the levels of ASFV early and late proteins, as well as viral DNA synthesis. Our further experiments indicated that genkwanin is able to inhibit ASFV infection at entry and egress stages. Finally, genkwanin displayed potent antiviral activity against highly virulent ASFV isolate currently circulating in Europe and China, emphasizing its value as candidate for antiviral drug development.

Active Ageing Index in Korea – Comparison with China and EU countries

AbstractThe evidence‐based policymaking relies on the use and robustness of the available data. Many conceptual and operational difficulties restrict this process, not least in making use of evidence to identify policy priorities. The Active Ageing Index (AAI), developed originally for the 28 European Union countries, offers a strong motivation in this respect. This paper reports on the development of the AAI for Korea, a country where speed and level of population aging is among the highest in the world. Drawing on the comparative analysis of the AAI results for Korea, China, and European countries, we find that Korea's AAI (35.3) is higher than the average of the AAI for all EU countries (33.9) but lower than China (37.3). Fitting Korea into the overall ranking with the EU countries and China (ranked 7), Korea is ranked 11, just behind Germany (10). The AAI results in Korea show that the employment domain performs extremely well compared with the EU countries, but other domains, especially “Social participation” and “Independent, healthy and secure living,” are achieving less favorable outcomes. High employment among the current cohorts of older workers in Korea can be attributed largely to the constraints of low pension income status.