Text file: 842.txt
author: mlad26
downvotes: 4
end consideration date: 2010-07-09
id: '842'
number comments: 17
number views: 2033
proposal type: Competent authority response
response: 'Response from the Ministry for Economic Affairs

  According to Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
  the introduction of any trade measures is a matter for the common commercial policy
  of the European Union, which is co-designed by the 27 Member States, which means
  that these measures must be in conformity with international trade rules, must be
  in the common interest of the EU and must apply directly in all Member States (and
  not only in Slovenia).

  The Common Commercial Policy must ensure that the EU market is sufficiently open
  to provide cheap raw materials or inputs for EU industry and to ensure sufficient
  competitive pressure on domestic firms. And domestic producers must have adequate
  access to third country markets to ensure economies of scale, greater specialisation
  and innovation. Open economies and low tariff and non-tariff barriers generally
  bring the greatest prosperity in the world. Countries negotiate with each other
  to minimise barriers to foreign market access, i.e. to maximise liberalisation.
  It is estimated that trade liberalisation has contributed as much as a quarter of
  the EU''s productivity gains over the last two decades, through better specialisation,
  innovation, the technological nature of imports and investment, economies of scale,
  etc.

  In the event of proven distortions of competition or unfair trade practices on the
  EU market and the resulting injury to EU industry caused by imports of certain products
  from China or any other third country, the EU may impose certain additional duties
  (anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard measures) on imports of these products.
  It should be noted, however, that the objective of the measures is not to prevent
  low-priced imports or to eliminate the natural competitive advantages of certain
  third countries, but to prevent artificial advantages obtained by third countries
  from the State or private organisations (e.g. illegal subsidies and other facilities
  granted by the Chinese government to producers and exporters). Currently, the EU
  has anti-dumping duties in place on imports of 53 products originating in China.
  In the case of trade with China, the EU must focus on ensuring that China, as a
  WTO member, fully respects international rules and does not impose barriers to legitimate
  market access for our exporters.

  Ultimately, it is the consumer who will decide whether to buy a domestic or an imported
  product, according to his or her financial means, awareness of the quality and safety
  of the product and other preferential characteristics.'
response date: 2010-08-17
response due date: null
sent date: 2010-06-09
title: Fear of globalism, neoliberalism and neoconservatism
upvotes: 20
url: https://predlagam.vladi.si/predlog/842
