夹在美中之间的欧盟_公共英语阅读理解

夹在美中之间的欧盟

In 2016, a provision in China's WTO Accession protocol expired, which identified China as a non-market economy. Beijing argued that this meant China would automatically be granted MES, which would change the abilities of trading partners such as the EU to launch anti-dumping measures against Chinese products. Neither the US nor the EU have explicitly granted China MES, arguing China does not fulfil the criteria. Yet, attaining this status has been one of China's key diplomatic goals and it has not shied away from putting pressure on its partners to get it. For instance, in 2017, a joint statement on climate change and clean energy was withheld after the EU-China Summit in Brussels due to the EU's position on MES.

不过，目前确实存在着关系改善的迹象。

Signs of improved relations do, however, exist.

贸易和投资仍然是中欧关系的支柱，而在看上去双方拥有更多共识的问题上，如气候变化、维护伊朗核协议、启动WTO改革等，中欧合作是稳固的。中国在欧盟的投资越来越多，由于监管障碍较少，政策环境可预测，以及拥有高技术资产，中国目前对欧洲的投资比对北美高九倍。中欧双边投资协定谈判正在进行中，考虑到当前国际贸易和投资关系面临的种种坎坷，谈判本身就可以说是一个积极的迹象。

Trade and investment remain the backbone of EU-China relations, and cooperation is strong on issues where there seems to be more of a common understanding, such as on climate change, the preservation of the Iran nuclear deal, and initiating WTO reform. China is increasingly investing in the EU, with investment volumes now nine-times higher in Europe than in North America due to fewer regulatory hurdles, a predictable policy environment, and high-tech assets. Negotiations over a Bilateral Investment Agreement between the two are moving along, which can itself be seen as a positive sign when taking into account all the stumbling blocks currently facing international trade and investment relations.