China joins forces with EU in massive swipe at Trump turning his back on Europe
THE European Union has joined forces with China as Beijing seeks to make the most of Donald Trump turning his back on Europe.
By KATIE MANSFIELD
Express.co.uk
Fri, Jun 2, 2017
Brussels and Beijing put on a show of unity at a global warming summit today as the United States withdraws from the landmark Paris climate change agreement.
With Donald Trump pedalling increasingly isolationist policies under his “America first” banner, China is seeking to position itself as a champion of free trade.
Taking a swipe at the US, China and the EU pledged unity in fighting global warming and raised hopes of improving trade.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top EU officials agreed a joint statement, backed by all 28 EU states, committing the EU and China to full implementation of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
Beijing has emerged as Europe’s unlikely partner in areas from free trade to security and Brussels is pushing for an EU-China investment treaty.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is urging China to scrap red tape slowing down business and allow EU companies to be “less restrained”.
Referring to a World Bank report placing China 78th of 190 countries in terms of the ease of doing business, he said: “A big economic powerhouse needs to be higher than mid-table.”
France, Germany and Italy have mooted the idea of allowing the EU to block Chinese investment in Europe, partly because European companies are denied similar access in China and because of risks of China acquiring prized European technology.
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