Europe’s top trade official is seeking new powers to compel companies to co-operate with trade investigations in a bid to strengthen Brussels’ hand in trade fights with China.
The proposed rules seek to address a growing concern in Brussels that European companies are shying away from filing complaints against Chinese competitors because they fear retribution from Beijing – be it in the form of lost market access or unfair regulatory treatment.
Karel De Gucht, the trade commissioner, has sought to counter that by bolstering his ability to launch anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations without a formal complaint from a company or industry, if there is sufficient evidence that European companies are being harmed.