The European Parliament (EP) on Monday debated whether the European Union should recognize China as a market economy.
China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. The WTO accession protocol means China will automatically transit to a market economy for Europe by Dec. 11, 2016 -- the 15th anniversary of its accession to the organization.
However, Europe insists on having it debated. Some WTO members, such as Australia, have already recognized China as a market economy in their law.
China achieving MES would make it much harder for discriminatory measures against its exports, such as the so-called "anti-dumping" operations by the EU.
In a report to the European Commission (EC), trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom pointed out that 1.38 percent of imports from China into the EU are currently affected by anti-dumping investigations.
The EC is conducting a full impact assessment on the potential effects of China achieving MES.
Helmut Scholz of the left wing GUE/NGL party suggested that the EU negotiate with China outside the WTO to strike a bilateral anti-dumping agreement.
Swedish center-right member Christofer Fjellner said the issue was not whether China should achieve MES but respect for China as a member of the WTO and respect for international trade rules.
"We have to present a proposal that respects the rules, doesn't provoke a trade conflict with China, and is politically implementable," he said.
Speaking for the liberal ALDE group, Dutch MEP Marietje Schaake said some EU politicians have already taken an emotional stance on the issue "to put forward their own protectionist positions, but they seem to forget that the EU has importers as well as exporters who also provide jobs," she said.
