The European Union is damaging relations with China by holding up talks over a trade practices agreement, Lord Mandelson, the UK business secretary, said yesterday.
Lord Mandelson, who served as EU trade commissioner between 2004-08, said talks over awarding “market economy status” to China were being stalled as a result of political pressure from some EU member states. During a visit to China, Lord Mandelson told the Financial Times that the talks “should not be held back politically by prejudice or special trade interests in Europe”.
“When we make negative gestures, they at best irritate China and at worst alienate China's goodwill when we should be building a serious strategic partnership between the EU and China.”