BRUSSELS: Even as it seeks free trade deals with the United States and Japan, the EU sees little near-term prospect of a similar accord with China, one of the bloc’s most important trading partners, a senior EU official said yesterday.
The official, who asked not to be named, said trade and investment were hugely important to the relationship with Beijing, the EU being China’s largest single market.
The source said Chinese officials had “mentioned again” the issue of a Free Trade Agreement during a visit to China last month by EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton.
The EU feels, however, that an investment accord was the most appropriate next step while an FTA would “not be excluded in the medium- to longer-term,” the official said.
AFP
