Probe into possible EU protectionism justified

In response to the European Union's anti-subsidy investigations into imports of Chinese railway locomotives, new energy vehicles and green energy products, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce launched an investigation into the EU's probe on Wednesday after receiving an application for it to do so from the National Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.

The ministry's probe into the EU's investigation into imports of Chinese railway locomotives, photovoltaic and wind power equipment, and security inspection equipment is being carried out through questionnaires, hearings, field investigations and other ways, and will be completed before Jan 10, 2025; although it could be extended to April 10, 2025, under special circumstances, according to the ministry. Some Chinese companies under investigation by the EU revealed that the information requested far exceeded the requirements of the anti-subsidy investigation, and even involved key technologies.

The application also says that the EU was using protectionist measures by arbitrarily distorting the definition of subsidies during the investigation, whose procedural standards were not open and transparent.

The EU's investigations are suspected of discriminatory law enforcement, and local companies established by Chinese companies in Europe are not given equal national treatment. Whether the EU discriminates against Chinese companies in actual practice is what the Ministry of Commerce of China is seeking to verify in its investigation.

The EU policymakers should realize that they cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. The EU's unfair probe targets the global competitiveness of the Chinese products, which stems from the Chinese companies' long-term and tremendous R&D input and fierce competition at home rather than subsidies.

By intentionally degrading the business environment for factories owned by Chinese companies in the EU, the bloc is trying to help EU manufacturers.

China is firmly opposed to any unilateralism and protectionism that politicizes and weaponizes economic and trade issues. It is natural that the country should take all necessary measures to safeguard the Chinese companies' rights and interests when they are harmed by any such coercive, protectionist and bullying behaviors that abuse rules and harm their legitimate interests.