涉及出口管制，妥处经贸摩擦，欧盟邀中方赴欧谈稀土
根据商务部网站消息，10月21日，商务部部长王文涛应约与欧盟委员会贸易和经济安全委员谢夫乔维奇举行视频会谈，双方就出口管制、欧盟对华电动汽车反补贴案等中欧经贸重点议题深入交换意见。双方同意按照第二十五次中欧领导人会晤共识，尽快在布鲁塞尔召开“升级版”中欧出口管制对话机制会议，欧方还邀请中方经贸高层本周赴欧会面。
王文涛表示，关于稀土出口管制问题，中方近期措施是依法依规完善中国出口管制体系的正常做法，体现了中国维护世界和平稳定的大国担当。中方致力于维护全球产供链安全稳定，一直为欧盟企业提供审批便利。
谢夫乔维奇表示，欧方愿与中方共同落实欧中领导人系列经贸共识，妥处经贸摩擦。欧方理解中方出于国家安全和国际共同安全考虑，出台稀土相关出口管制措施。措施实施过程中，希望中方可加快审批欧企申请。
21日，围绕安世半导体等问题，王文涛还应约与荷兰经济大臣卡雷曼斯通话。王文涛表示，中方敦促荷方从维护全球产供链安全稳定的大局出发，秉持契约精神和市场化、法治化原则，尽快妥善解决问题，保护中国投资者合法权益，营造公平、透明、可预期的营商环境。卡雷曼斯表示，荷方高度重视荷中经贸关系，愿与中方密切沟通，为安世半导体问题寻找建设性的解决方案。
欧洲新闻电视台报道称，欧盟是中美贸易争端的连带“受害者”。随着中美经贸紧张关系再度升级，中国于10月9日发布新的稀土出口管制措施，要求相关稀土产品、技术及生产设备等出口时必须获得中方许可，并说明最终用途。“这令人无法接受。”谢夫乔维奇上周表示，中方严格的审批流程“阻碍了欧洲企业经济运营”。
《环球时报》记者注意到，中国发布相关出口管制措施时，曾多次阐明此举为“维护国家安全和利益，更好履行防扩散等国际义务”，并已提前向美国、欧盟、日本等主要贸易伙伴进行了通报。10月16日的例行新闻发布会上，商务部新闻发言人何咏前再次重申，稀土出口管制措施是中国政府依法依规完善自身出口管制体系的正常行为，并非针对特定国家和地区，只要是用于民用用途的、合规的出口申请，都可以获得批准。
北京语言大学国别和区域研究院副研究员董一凡22日告诉《环球时报》记者，中方一再阐明对稀土的出口进行管制而不是进行限制，符合规定的申请都可以获得批准。欧方的担忧是基于地缘政治背景下对中方的误解，基于这种误解的错误言行更是缺乏客观根据。
董一凡说，中欧经贸关系的本质是互利共赢，欧方应该建立正确认知，在处理对华经贸关系上坚持独立自主，不依附并受制于第三方。克制使用限制性贸易工具，坚持市场原则，为中国企业赴欧投资兴业提供良好营商环境。尊重彼此关切，通过对话磋商，才是欧盟寻求与中方达成一致的正确途径。
然而在欧盟内部，关于对华贸易政策的辩论正在升温。就在谢夫乔维奇呼吁不要与中国就稀土问题升级争端的同时，德国、法国和波兰支持在即将召开的欧盟领导人峰会上讨论应对中国对欧贸易措施。据彭博社报道，多名欧方消息人士称，围绕中国管制稀土出口一事，法国希望欧盟考虑所有可能的对华报复选项，德国也持类似强硬立场，并愿讨论动用“反胁迫机制”作为回应。该机制于2023年年底生效，允许欧盟限制贸易、削减知识产权或限制外资投资，被视为欧盟对外经贸博弈中的“核选项”。不过，有德国官员警告，若真的激活该机制，德国将面临经济反噬。
译文：
Involving export controls and resolving economic and trade frictions, the EU invites China to Europe for talks on rare earths
According to the website of the Ministry of Commerce, on October 21st, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao held a video conference with European Commission's Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Shevchovich, as scheduled. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on key economic and trade issues between China and Europe, such as export controls and the EU's anti subsidy case against China's electric vehicles. Both sides agreed to hold an upgraded version of the China EU Export Control Dialogue mechanism meeting in Brussels as soon as possible in accordance with the consensus of the 25th China EU Leaders' Meeting. The European side also invited Chinese economic and trade leaders to meet in Europe this week.
Wang Wentao stated that regarding the issue of rare earth export control, China's recent measures are a normal practice of improving China's export control system in accordance with laws and regulations, reflecting China's great power responsibility to maintain world peace and stability. China is committed to maintaining the security and stability of the global supply chain and has been providing approval convenience for EU enterprises.
Shevchovic stated that the European side is willing to work with the Chinese side to implement the series of economic and trade consensuses reached by the leaders of Europe and China, and to properly handle economic and trade frictions. The European side understands that China has introduced export control measures related to rare earths for national security and international common security considerations. During the implementation of the measures, we hope that the Chinese side can accelerate the approval of European enterprise applications.
On the 21st, Wang Wentao was also scheduled to have a phone call with Dutch Economy Minister Karemans regarding issues such as Ansea Semiconductor. Wang Wentao stated that the Chinese side urges the Dutch side to prioritize maintaining the security and stability of the global supply chain, uphold the spirit of contracts and the principles of marketization and rule of law, resolve issues as soon as possible, protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese investors, and create a fair, transparent, and predictable business environment. Karemans stated that the Dutch side attaches great importance to the economic and trade relations between the Netherlands and China, and is willing to closely communicate with the Chinese side to find constructive solutions for the Anse semiconductor issue.
European news television reported that the EU is a joint "victim" of the US China trade dispute. With the escalation of economic and trade tensions between China and the United States, China issued new rare earth export control measures on October 9th, requiring that relevant rare earth products, technologies, and production equipment must obtain Chinese permission for export and specify their final use. This is unacceptable, "said Shevchovich last week, stating that China's strict approval process" hinders the economic operation of European companies.
The Global Times reporter noticed that when China issued relevant export control measures, it had repeatedly stated that this move was to "safeguard national security and interests, better fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation", and had already informed major trading partners such as the United States, the European Union, and Japan in advance. At the regular press conference on October 16th, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, He Yongqian, reiterated that the rare earth export control measures are a normal behavior of the Chinese government to improve its own export control system in accordance with laws and regulations, and are not targeted at specific countries and regions. As long as the export application is for civilian use and compliant, it can be approved.
Dong Yifan, Associate Researcher at the Institute of Country and Regional Studies at Beijing Language and Culture University, told Global Times on the 22nd that China has repeatedly stated that it controls the export of rare earths rather than imposing restrictions, and applications that meet the regulations can be approved. The concerns of the European side are based on misunderstandings about China in the geopolitical context, and erroneous words and actions based on such misunderstandings lack objective basis.
Dong Yifan said that the essence of China Europe economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win. The European side should establish a correct understanding, adhere to independence and self-reliance in handling economic and trade relations with China, and not rely on or be subject to third parties. Restrain the use of restrictive trade tools, adhere to market principles, and provide a favorable business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and develop in Europe. Respecting each other's concerns and engaging in dialogue and consultation is the correct way for the EU to seek agreement with China.
However, within the EU, the debate on trade policy towards China is heating up. At the same time that Shevchenko called for not escalating the dispute with China over rare earth issues, Germany, France, and Poland support discussing measures to address China's trade with Europe at the upcoming EU leaders' summit. According to Bloomberg, multiple European sources have stated that France hopes the EU will consider all possible retaliatory options against China regarding China's control of rare earth exports, while Germany also holds a similarly tough stance and is willing to discuss using an "anti coercion mechanism" as a response. This mechanism, which will come into effect at the end of 2023, allows the EU to restrict trade, reduce intellectual property rights, or restrict foreign investment, and is seen as a "nuclear option" in the EU's foreign trade game. However, German officials have warned that if the mechanism is really activated, Germany will face an economic backlash.