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☆ European companies in China are under pressure from slower growth, overcapacity
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesBEIJING — European companies in China are finding it harder to make money in the country as growth slows and overcapacity pressures increase, according to a survey released Friday by the EU Chamber of Commerce in China. Only 30% of EU Chamber survey respondents said their profit margins were higher in China than their company's worldwide average — an eight-year low. Jens Eskelund EU Chamber of Commerce in China, presidentChina's economy is now far bigger than it was in 2015 and 2016. More than one-third of EU Chamber survey respondents said they observed overcapacity in their industry in the last year, and another 10% expect to see it in the near future. "This is not just European companies whining," Eskelund said.

Persons: Carlo D'Andrea, D'Andrea, Jens Eskelund, Eskelund, overcapacity Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, EU Chamber of Commerce, EU, of Commerce, U.S, Bureau, Statistics, Cosmetics Locations: Minhou County, Fuzhou, China, BEIJING, Shanghai, Beijing

☆ EU-China trade relations are in a 'slow-motion train accident,' business group says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"What we see right now is the unfolding of a slow-motion train accident," he told reporters at a briefing last week. "That's when trade becomes a security question and I think that is perhaps not fully appreciated in China just yet." There needs to be an honest conversation between Europe and China about what this is going to mean. The EU was China's largest regional trading partner until Southeast Asia recently surpassed it. The U.S. is China's largest trading partner on a single-country basis.

Persons: Jens Eskelund, Eskelund, I've, Markus Herrmann Chen Organizations: Future Publishing, Getty, European Union Chamber of Commerce, EU, of Commerce, Investment, China Macro Locations: Hefei, Anhui province, BEIJING, Europe, Beijing, China, Southeast Asia, U.S

☆ China calls on foreign businesses to share their problems as investment slumps
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

While the Commerce Ministry meeting did not reveal much new progress on the 24 measures to support foreign business that were announced last summer, attendees said they were able to share specific challenges about doing business in China. The ministry said representatives from more than 60 foreign businesses and 9 associations attended Wednesday's roundtable. Foreign direct investment into China has fallen to its lowest level in three years, according to official data, amid geopolitical tensions and slowing growth in the country. Hart said that it's hard for companies not yet in China to complete due diligence and approve new investments. Biden, who faces re-election this fall, has emphasized the need to compete with China while finding areas of cooperation.

Persons: Aly Song, MofCom, Jens Eskelund, Eskelund, Michael Hart, Hart, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, Reuters, Reuters BEIJING — China's Ministry of Commerce, Commerce Ministry, EU Chamber of Commerce, Cyberspace Administration of, China's Ministry of Commerce, American Chamber of Commerce, U.S, U.S . Transportation Department Locations: China, U.S, Yiwu, Zhejiang province, Reuters BEIJING, Beijing, Cyberspace Administration of China, San Francisco

☆ Xi-Biden meeting in San Francisco is a baby step in the right direction, EU Chamber of Commerce's Wuttke says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailXi-Biden meeting in San Francisco is a baby step in the right direction, EU Chamber of Commerce's Wuttke saysFormer European Union Chamber of Commerce President Joerg Wuttke discusses the Chinese economy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the UBS conference in London.

Persons: Biden, Commerce's Wuttke, Joerg Wuttke Organizations: Xi, EU, European Union Chamber of, UBS Locations: San Francisco, London

☆ EU Chamber of Commerce in China discusses 'sensible de-risking'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChina, Europe need to look at what constitutes sensible de-risking: EU Chamber of Commerce in ChinaJens Eskelund, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, discusses Europe's potential punitive tariffs against Chinese electric vehicle companies and how to address the challenges of consensus-building.

Persons: China Jens Eskelund Organizations: of Commerce, European Union Chamber of Commerce Locations: China, Europe

☆ EU trade chief promises more 'assertive' approach to China as deficit soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

And we will be more assertive in tackling unfairness.”The trade chief’s visit comes as tensions flare between the bloc and China over trade imbalances and geopolitical issues. The bloc’s trade deficit with China hit 396 billion euros ($421 billion) last year, which was “the highest in the history of mankind,” Jorge Toledo, the EU ambassador to China, was quoted by Reuters as saying. Dombrovskis said China’s new foreign relations law and its newly broadened counter-espionage law, in particular, were of “great concern” to European business. Two months later, it unveiled a sweeping foreign relations law enshrining its right to impose “countermeasures” against actions that it deems a threat. Russia has become increasingly dependent on China since the Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Valdis Dombrovskis, “, ” Dombrovskis, ” Jorge Toledo, Dombrovskis, ”, enshrining, Vladimir Putin, — Lucas Liliholm, Manveena Suri Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Union, Tsinghua University, EU, China, Reuters, European Union, West, EU Chamber of Commerce, Kremlin Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Europe, EU, United States, Ukraine, Russia

Jens Eskelund, President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, attends an interview with Reuters in Beijing, China August 21, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said on Wednesday that it would not use the term "uninvestable" to describe China, in response to a comment from the United States. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said late Tuesday American firms had increasingly used the term to describe China, prompting Beijing to defend its business practices and approach to foreign investment. "‘Uninvestable’ is not a term we would use to describe China," Jens Eskelund, president of the EU chamber, said in an emailed response to questions from Reuters on Raimondo's remarks. Reporting by Laurie Chen; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jens Eskelund, Florence, Gina Raimondo, Raimondo, Eskelund, Laurie Chen, John Geddie, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel Organizations: European Union Chamber of Commerce, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Commerce, EU, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Rights BEIJING, United States, Europe

☆ China has a new foreign relations law. Here's what it means for business
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesBEIJING — For foreign businesses in China, geopolitics hold more sway than new Chinese laws, according to analysts. Two new laws, one on espionage and the other on foreign relations, took effect July 1. In strictly legal terms, however, the legislative changes themselves don't increase the risk for foreign businesses in China, said Jeremy Daum, senior fellow at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center. The website's translation of the Foreign Relations Law notes that foreign organizations in China "must not endanger China's national security, harm the societal public interest, or undermine societal public order." A House committee delegation discussed China business in their meeting with executives of high-profile U.S. tech and media companies in California in April.

Persons: Jeremy Daum, Yale Law School's Paul Tsai, Antony Blinken's, Michael House, Perkins, Daum, Mintz, It's, Alex Liang Anjie, Michael Hart, he's, Hart, Janet Yellen, Jens Eskelund, Alex Liang Organizations: Visual China, Getty, Yale Law, Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center, U.S, China, Foreign Relations, Mintz Group, Bain, Capvision Partners, Reuters, American Chamber of Commerce, Treasury, Companies, EU Chamber of Commerce Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, Washington, U.S, Shanghai, California, Broad

☆ EU Chamber of Commerce in China discusses its members' 'primary concern'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEU Chamber of Commerce in China discusses its members' 'primary concern'Jens Eskelund, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, cites factors related to both China's domestic economy and weak demand in overseas markets.

Persons: Jens Eskelund Organizations: EU, of Commerce, European Union Chamber of Commerce Locations: China

☆ Business in China is getting harder for European companies despite the end of Covid controls
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING – European businesses in China are finding it harder to operate in the country, even after it has re-opened from Covid, the EU Chamber of Commerce in China found in its latest member survey, released Wednesday. Mainland China ended its stringent Covid controls in December, and authorities pledged to support more business travel in and out of the country. "Zero-Covid has ended, but other headwinds will need to be addressed if China is to regain its attractiveness," the Chamber's report said. While the survey noted part of those were due to Covid controls, the outlook remains grim. There's "no expectation that the regulatory environment is really going to improve over the next five years," Jens Eskelund, president of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, told reporters in a briefing.

Persons: Ole Kaällenius, Zhimin Qian, Li Qiang, Olaf Scholz, Covid, Jens Eskelund Organizations: State Power Investment Corporation, EU Chamber of Commerce Locations: People's Republic of China, BEIJING, China, Covid, Mainland China

And while Musk has mentioned the trip in two posts since leaving, he didn't tweet once while in China. That said, after three years of harsh COVID curbs that hampered entry into China, foreign CEOs appear eager to get the lay of the land. Sixty-seven foreign business leaders attended the high-profile China Development Forum this year, although that is still 20 fewer than in 2019. The few known comments by foreign CEOs whilst they were in China have been in line with Biden's stance that he is not seeking to decouple the world's two largest economies. The foreign ministry quoted Musk as saying he was opposed to a decoupling of the U.S. and China economies which he described as "conjoined twins".

Persons: Elon Musk, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Musk, Goldman's Solomon, wariness, Xi, Noah Fraser, Tesla, Goldman, Joe Biden, Tim Cook, Patrick Gelsinger, Mary Barra, Stephen Schwarzman, Jamie Dimon, Christopher Johnson, JPMorgan's Dimon, Daniel Russel, Brenda Goh, Joe Cash, Selena Li, Zhang Yan, David Brunnstrom, David Shepardson, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Media, Twitter, Canada China Business Council, EU Chamber of Commerce, U.S . Department of Commerce, U.S, flashpoints, General Motors, China, China Strategies, U.S ., JPMorgan, Blackstone, Intel, JPMorgan Global China Summit, Asia Society Policy Institute, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, BEIJING, China, Shanghai, U.S, Washington, Beijing, Blackstone's, East, Hong Kong

☆ No chance EU-China investment deal will be revived at this point: EU Chamber of Commerce in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNo chance EU-China investment deal will be revived at this point: EU Chamber of Commerce in ChinaJens Eskelund, vice president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, says it's unlikely that the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment will see "significant traction" in the short term.

Macron last visited China in 2019 while it will be von der Leyen's first trip since becoming European Commission president that year. However, some analysts said ostentatious deal-signing would appear opportunistic at a time of heightened frictions between the United States and China. "Both (Macron and von der Leyen) have not only business in mind but also Ukraine," said Joerg Wuttke, president of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China. Macron and von der Leyen are expected to echo the message that Xi should also talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. China and EU decoupling will only serve U.S. interests, but make both China and Europe suffer," it said.

China and U.S. flags are seen near a TikTok logo in this illustration picture taken July 16, 2020. Florence Lo | ReutersBEIJING — China says it would "strongly oppose" a forced sale of TikTok, making clear the government's involvement with the social media giant that's trying hard to distance itself from Beijing authorities. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Chinese Commerce Ministry's remarks. But the commerce ministry's claim of control over a TikTok sale or spinoff indicates Beijing wants to be involved. When asked about the commerce ministry's remarks Thursday, TikTok's CEO said the app isn't available in mainland China and is based in Los Angeles.

☆ China is reopening after zero-Covid. But there's a long road ahead
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In major cities Shanghai and Shenzhen, Friday morning rush hour traffic was extremely light, according to Baidu data. Subway ridership in major cities as of Thursday remained well below the normal range, according to Wind Information. "It will be the first time in nearly three years that mass migration will resume in China as families congregate." As for foreign direct investment into China, Hart said he expected it would take about a year after travel fully reopens for such investment to start recovering. Hainan hotel bookings last week rose by 20% from the prior week, Trip.com said.

☆ Huge trade partner and ‘systemic rival.’ Europe has a China problem
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and tit-for-tat sanctions between China and EU lawmakers have strained relations since. The total value of the goods trade between China and Europe hit €696 billion ($732 billion) last year, up by nearly a quarter from 2019. China was the third largest destination for EU goods exports, accounting for 10% of the total, according to Eurostat data. Even so, the United States may exert more pressure on Europe to pull away from China, Borges de Castro noted. EU investment into China has also become more concentrated.

☆ Beijing grinds to a near halt as China's capital city battles Covid with more lockdowns
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Covid restrictions have tightened in Beijing while infections keep soaring, prompting lockdowns of communities. Jade Gao | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China's capital city is grinding to a near standstill as Covid controls spread. Beijing city government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. watch nowLocal infections have surged despite gradual tightening of Covid measures over the last two weeks. Beijing city reported more than 1,800 Covid infections for Thursday, bringing the total for the month to well over 10,000.

☆ China's Covid controls are hurting more of the economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — China's Covid situation is only getting worse, preventing the country from stamping out the virus and relaxing controls. As of Monday, China's Covid controls negatively affected 12.2% of national GDP — up from 9.5% a week ago, according to Nomura's model. Recent Covid infections have been reported in more than 20 of China's 31 province-level regions. It was not immediately clear whether there was any impact on factory production in the South China region. China's Ministry of Commerce did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

☆ 60 million jobs in China are dependent on the European market, says EU Chamber of Commerce in China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email60 million jobs in China are dependent on the European market, says EU Chamber of Commerce in ChinaJoerg Wuttke, president of the organization, says China is also dependent on exports to Europe just as Germany is dependent on some Chinese imports.

☆ Germany's dependence on China is 'overblown,' but critical goods diversification needs to improve: EU Chamber of Commerce
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Su-Lin Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

watch nowThe top European business representative in China downplayed concerns over Germany's economic reliance on China as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz makes his maiden in-person visit to Beijing. President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China Joerg Wuttke told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Friday that many of Germany's imports from China are replaceable, when asked if the European country had become dependent on China for many of its goods. Experts largely agreed with Wuttke but warned that Germany needed to step up its diversification from with China. and international relations expert from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, largely agreed with Wuttke's comments, given Wuttke's extensive knowledge of Germany's stakes in China. He said Germany must reduce its dependency so that it is neither susceptible to blackmail by Beijing, nor unable to implement sanctions.

☆ Hu Chunhua: From rural roots to candidate for China premiership
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Dominique Patton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"For his policy record, I would pick Hu," said Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China at Chatham House. Hu is depicted in state media as a man of action, sometimes shown checking on planting progress in far-flung provinces. YOUTH LEAGUE ROOTS, POVERTY FIGHTERHu got his start in the party training ground of the Communist Youth League. Despite his Youth League roots - the faction was seen to be a rival to Xi's - Hu has proved his loyalty to Xi, promoting many of his initiatives in rural areas, including the campaign to eradicate poverty. Hu also wrote a paean to Xi's "historic achievements" on rural issues published in the party's official People's Daily in July.

☆ There's no 'exodus' of European companies from China: EU Chamber of Commerce in China
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThere's no 'exodus' of European companies from China: EU Chamber of Commerce in ChinaJoerg Wuttke, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, says, however, that many of them are looking to invest in Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

☆ European businesses are rethinking their plans for a 'closed' China
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesBEIJING — European businesses in China are revaluating their market plans after this year's Covid controls further isolated the country from the rest of the world, said Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. For European businesses, "we talk about a complete readjustment of our view on China over the last six months," Wuttke told reporters at a briefing for the chamber's annual China position paper, released Wednesday. He said the lockdowns and uncertainty for businesses have turned China into a "closed" and "distinctively different" country that might prompt companies to leave. Foreign businesses can still find specific areas of opportunity. China is improving local market access, albeit in areas where locals already dominate or are "desperate" for foreign investment, Wuttke said.

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