Past Event
How to keep a competitive environment while engaging with non market economies?
How can we ensure fair competition between European firms and Chinese state-backed players?
State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are key players in the Chinese economy, and increasingly, in the world. Twenty of the 100 largest global firms are now Chinese SOEs, from just a handful in 2008.
European policy-makers are worried about the growing weight of Chinese state-backed players–which includes SOEs as well as mixed-ownership and fully private companies that enjoy preferential treatment. Chinese state support could distort competition in the single market and the current trade policy frameworks provide inadequate protection. The European Commission recently proposed to reinforce its framework (the White Paper on Foreign Subsidies). Can the proposed new rules ensure fair competition between European firms and Chinese state-backed players?
In the first session, panelists will review the latest evidence about the role of Chinese SOEs and discuss the gaps in the existing trade policy frameworks. The second session will focus on solutions. Is the White Paper proposal adequate? Are there better alternatives? What if China retaliates?
This is an invitation-only event, open only to Bruegel members and selected invitees.
Schedule
13:00-13:05
Welcome
Guntram B. Wolff, Former Director
13:05-14:00
Session 1: Chinese SOEs and the European single market
Chair: Julia Anderson, Research Analyst
Helge Berger, Assistant Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF
Alicia García-Herrero, Senior Fellow
Cian Ruane, Economist, IMF
Hylke Vandenbussche, Professor and Head of international economics, University of Leuven
14:00-14:15
Break
14:15-15:45
Session 2: Identifying solutions
Chair: Georgios Petropoulos, Non-resident Fellow
Michiel Boots, Chief Economist, The Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, The Netherlands
Carles Esteva Mosso, Deputy Director-General, European Commission, DG COMP
Frédéric Jenny, Chairman of the OECD Competition Committee
15:45
End
Speakers
Julia Anderson
Research Analyst
Helge Berger
Assistant Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF
Michiel Boots
Chief Economist, The Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, The Netherlands
Alicia García-Herrero
Senior Fellow
Carles Esteva Mosso
Deputy Director-General, European Commission, DG COMP
Frédéric Jenny
Chairman of the OECD Competition Committee
Georgios Petropoulos
Non-resident Fellow
Cian Ruane
Economist, IMF
Hylke Vandenbussche
Professor and Head of international economics, University of Leuven
Guntram B. Wolff
Former Director
Location & Contact
Matilda Sevon
[email protected]
