EU backs China joining talks on Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA)

EU News 139/2014

Brussels, 31 March 2014
IP/14/352

On the occasion of the visit of the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, to Brussels, the EU announced its strong support for China joining ongoing negotiations to liberalise trade in services. The EU's position is reflected in the EU-China joint statement issued at the Summit.

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TiSA is an initiative open to all WTO members interested in further liberalising trade in services. Launched in March 2013, the talks currently involve 23 WTO members, although the negotiations themselves are not being held within the WTO itself due to a lack of unanimous support among the organisation's membership.

Last year, China expressed its interest in joining TiSA and in September submitted its application to participate in the talks. The EU supports China's bid because the EU's strategic objective is to build an agreement with broad participation. The debate over China's participation has been difficult, however, due to concerns expressed by some TiSA participants.

Source and additional information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-352_en.htm?locale=en

File Photo: Visit of Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, to the EC. David O'Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Karel De Gucht, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC, José Manuel Barroso, Joaquín Almunia, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Competition, Günther Oettinger, Member of the EC in charge of Energy, and Jean-Luc Demarty, Director General of DG "Trade" of the EC (in the foreground, from left to right) Date: 31/03/2014 Reference: P-025336/00-09 Location: Brussels - EC/Berlaymont (C)EU, 2014 URL

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