Doing Business In China Getting Harder, European Business Lobby Says

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European businesses feel doing business in China is getting harder, a report from the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China showed Wednesday.

In its business position paper 2009/2010, the business lobby said European businesses have observed a slowdown after China made strict regulations over the past twelve months, with some sectors reporting that the situation has actually gotten worse as industrial-policy interventions and foreign investment restrictions have increased.

The European Chamber urged China to open up its markets and to make fundamental reforms to maintain the attractiveness of China as an investment destination for European businesses. Such moves will also help China to build a sustainable economic recovery.

"European businesses believe that the current economic crisis provides a prime opportunity for China to restructure the economy and build a transparent and fair business environment for all companies, both domestic and foreign." The European Chamber believes that China can play a proactive role in easing trade tensions by arresting the regression in the reform process observed in many industries and adopting measures to build a level playing field for all businesses in China.

"Such moves would also serve to boost investment and domestic consumption, and in turn enable the Chinese economy to achieve its latent potential."

"Over the past year, the European Chamber has noted a gradual slowdown - and in some cases a partial reversal - in the economic opening up process," said Joerg Wuttke President of the European Chamber.

However, China's experience in the last three decades has clearly proved that it is precisely in periods of crisis that increased opening and reform has bred the greatest success.

"We are convinced that this is an ideal moment for China to adopt a new and bolder cycle of reforms, a move that would ensure that China maximizes its growth potential over the next five to ten years," Wuttke said. The European Chamber will be presenting its paper to government and regulatory agencies in China, to the European Commission and EU member state governments, and to a wide range of business organizations and companies in China and Europe.

European businesses feel doing business in China is getting harder, a report from the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China showed Wednesday. (Market News Provided by RTTNews)