Peter Mandelson (R), Trade Commissioner of the European Union (EU), talks to Guan Chengyuan, Chinese ambassador to the EU, in Brussels, capital of Belgium, Apr. 16, 2007. There will be no big change with the European Union's anti-dumping rules, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said on Monday as a public consultation is wrapping up. (Xinhua Photo/Xu Jinquan) Photo Gallery>>>
BRUSSELS, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The European Union
will not join the United States in its WTO action against China over piracy, the
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said on Monday, saying dialogue was
preferred.
"At the moment, I have decided that the European
Union should be an observer of the case rather than a party to it," Mandelson
said at a luncheon party hosted by Guan Chengyuan, Chinese ambassador to the EU.
The U.S. government announced its decision last week
to file two cases with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against China over the
issues concerning intellectual property rights (IPR) and accession to China's
publication market, a move criticized by China as contrary to the mutual
understanding about properly solving trade disputes.
"I, as you know, favor dialogue over WTO cases.
Dialogue is my preference," Mandelson told Xinhua.
The EU trade chief cited the negotiated solution to
the Sino-EU trade row over textiles in 2005 as a success model. Mandelson
himself led the talks with China, which helped to avert a looming trade war
between the two trading partners with a mutually beneficial compromise.
While acknowledging that the Chinese government has
made efforts to better protect IPR and combat piracy, Mandelson urged China to
do more in law enforcement and implementation of bilateral agreements in order
to relieve the concern of EU investors.
"I have come under some pressure to join the United
States in this case ... it is possible that the events may force me to rethink
this decision," Mandelson warned.
Chinese ambassador Guan Chengyuan agreed with
Mandelson that dialogue, instead of legal complaints, is the best solution to
trade disputes, pointing out that China's efforts should be recognized.
"It is our consistent approach to solve problems
through dialogue and consultation, which is beneficial to the promotion of
bilateral economic and trade relations," Guan said.
NANCHANG, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China's top intellectual
property rights (IPR) official lashed out on Tuesday at the United States' WTO
complaint over alleged "copyright piracy" in China.
"It's not a sensible move for the U.S. government to file
such complaint," said Tian Lipu, commissioner of the Intellectual Property
Office, at a national meeting of IPR officials in Nanchang, capital of east
China's Jiangxi Province. Full story
Print
