The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) took part in the webinar “The reform proposals in the EU regarding state capitalism and foreign state subsidies”, organized by the German Monopolies Commission on 4th December. The public event focused on third-country subsidies and the instruments proposed by the EU Commission’s White Paper on levelling the playing field as regards foreign subsidies.

Ms. Zhou Lihong, Chairwoman of the CCCEU, joined Dr. Philipp Steinberg, Director-General of Economic Policy at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kühling, Chairman of the Monopolies Commission, and Mr. Christof Schoser, Head of the European Commission’s Task Force of Foreign Subsidies in giving speeches, which were followed by a Q&A session.

Ms. Zhou’s intervention presented the perspectives of the Chinese business community on the EU White Paper on foreign subsidies. “We expect the regulatory regime indicated in the White Paper to ensure market fairness and openness, to be legally justified, and to provide legal certainty” she said. “Most importantly, we expect that it will not lead to discriminatory treatment of foreign economic operators.”

The German Monopolies Commission is a permanent, independent expert committee which advises the German government in the areas of competition policy-making, competition law, and regulation. The CCCEU is glad for having participated in this successful event and for the opportunity to share the viewpoint of the Chinese business community in the EU.