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EC denies delay in telecoms probes

Updated: 2013-08-07 07:16
By Li Jiabao and Shen Jingting ( China Daily)

EC denies delay in telecoms probes
Media reports said the European Union will probably not launch its planned anti-subsidy probe into Chinese telecoms equipment makers, including Huawei Technologies Co and ZTE Corp. [Photo / Xinhua]

The European Commission on Tuesday denied a media report that the European Union might delay launching investigations into Chinese telecoms companies' practices.

It also denied there was any link between the telecoms issue and whether European companies win a satisfactory share in China Mobile Ltd's huge contract to build a next-generation wireless network.

On Tuesday, the Financial Times quoted unidentified officials as saying the EU will defer making a decision on whether to launch anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations against Chinese telecoms companies, including Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp, until after China Mobile selects winners for the contracts.

"The media reports are entirely based on sources and do not refer to the views of Commissioner (Karel) De Gucht," Helene Banner, media representative for EU trade policy in the office of EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, told China Daily in an e-mail.

"Commissioner De Gucht has repeated his position last week: The European Commission is ready to launch an anti-dumping and an anti-subsidy investigation concerning imports of mobile telecommunications networks from China, but seeks a negotiated solution in this case.

"However, so far, the European Commission has not yet been in negotiations on the telecoms case with the Chinese authorities. Consequently, a link between the tender mentioned in the news articles and the solution to the telecoms case has never been discussed with the Chinese authorities," Banner said.

China's Ministry of Commerce did not comment on the Financial Times report, and Huawei and ZTE couldn't be reached for comment on Tuesday.

The telecoms issue moved to the front burner in trade ties after a recent bilateral solar dispute settlement that averted a trade war.

The EC in May took a decision in principle to open investigations concerning imports of mobile telecommunications networks and their essential elements from China.

The decision was not activated to allow for negotiations toward an amicable solution with the Chinese authorities.

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