EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI): What’s in it for Europe and China and the road ahead
IEEM

After the announcement of the signature of the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) between the EU and China on December 30, 2020, the actual text of the agreement has been released on January 22, 2021. The negotiation of the CAI started in 2013 and is aimed at establishing a level playing field, promoting sustainable development and broadening market access for European companies. Although some parts of the agreement are still missing or in the negotiation, e.g. investment protection, both the EU and China highly promoted the agreement as a millstone achievement in the Sino-European relationship. CAI was agreed at the political level between China and the EU, but it still requires the ratification of the European Parliament to be legally adopted.
– Could the CAI be seen as an achievement to further opening the market access for European companies in China?
– Could the CAI be effective in creating a level playing field in EU-China business relationship, especially regarding transfer of technology and state subsidies?
– Could the CAI be effectively implemented to promote sustainability in development regarding labour and environmental issues?
– What could be the impact of CAI on the strategy and operations of European and Chinese companies in their cross-border operations?

The roundtable will bring several leading experts from the European parliament, universities, think-tanks and business associations to answer the above questions and to assess strategic and business importance of CAI. We are especially interested in exploring opportunities and challenges related to the CAI for European and Chinese companies in their cross-border operation, competition, and cooperation and well as deepening relations between EU and China.

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