SCMP-New EU Parl't Trade Committee 'Stuffed w/China Hawks'

(MNI) London - The European Parliament has confirmed the members of its Committee on International Trade (INTA) for the upcoming parliamentary session. Finbar Bermingham at SCMP posts on X: "EP trade committee fairly stuffed with China hawks. Glucksmann, Gregorova, Groothuis, Hahn, Karlsboro, Lexmann, van Brempt... I wouldn't call Vedrenne a hawk, but she is a champion for a more French-looking EU trade policy, which is usually not good for Beijing".

• INTA holds some notable powers with regards to the EU's trade policy, including the power to ratify or reject trade agreements, and providing oversight of Commission activities with regards to trade. Chair of the Comittee Bernd Lange, a German Social Democrat who is expected to win re-election to his position, saidin 2024 that the committee acts as "the democratic conscience of Europe's common trade policy".
• There is increased focus on EU-China trade relations at present amid apparent division within the Union as to the imposition of EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.
• Provisional duties of 37.6% are currently in place against Chinese EVs, but the Commission is in the process of assessing whether these should be put in place definitively. If it does recommend their imposition it will require a qualified majority vote in the European Council, needing the backing of 15 member states representing 65% of the EU population.