Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection NOTICE TO MEMBERS (04/2018)

Transcription

1 European Parliament Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection NOTICE TO MEMBERS (04/2018) Subject: Report on the IMCO Mission to Shanghai and Guangzhou, China, on July 2018 Introduction From July a mission of six IMCO MEPs visited Shanghai and Guangzhou, China. Among the main topics of the mission was the EU-China customs cooperation, the goods package, customs checks of the safety of products and methods to combat counterfeiting, digital market developments, e-commerce and opportunities and challenges in relation to development and further use of AI. Lead by Marlene Mizzi (S&D), the delegation was composed of Birgit Collin-Langen (EPP), Othmar Karas (EPP), Ines Vaidere (EPP), Nicola Danti (S&D) and Marco Zullo (EFDD). In Shanghai, the delegation met: Representatives of the European Chamber of Commerce to China, Shanghai Officials from EU MSs consulates in Shanghai Representatives of Shanghai Customs Representatives of the Shanghai Industry and Commerce Bureau Mr Dailiu, Chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People s Congress Representatives of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatisation Representatives of the SAP Labs China In Guangzhou, the delegation met: Representatives of Guangzhou Customs Authority Representatives of Guangzhou Port Authority Mr.Chen Zhiying, Vice-Mayor of Guangzhou The mission was concluded by a tour of the Nansha port of Guangzhou. CM\ docx PE v01-00 United in diversity

2 Summary report Tuesday, 17 July, Shanghai, China (1) The delegation visit in Shanghai kicked off with a meeting with Mr Carlo D Andrea, Vice President of the European Chamber, and Chamber s representatives from its various working groups. The delegation was briefed about the latest developments in China with focus on digital market developments. After the presentation a discussion with representatives of the Chamber s various working groups followed, it concentrated on consumer protection in China, combatting counterfeiting, public procurement, standards and standards setting processes, and digital market developments. (2) The delegation then met briefly with a number of representatives from EU Members States General Consulates. (3) At the Shanghai Customs, the delegation met with senior officials lead by Deputy Director General Tan Wu. The delegation was briefed about the latest developments in the area of customs. Shanghai customs fall under the general administration of customs with a mandate comprising smuggling investigation, statistics compilation, customs audit, IPR customs protection and customs cooperation, as well as containers surveillance, safety and security of people and product quality (former CIQ responsibilities). Shanghai customs officials underlined China s efforts in promoting trade facilitation and noted amongst other: reform of national clearance with the objective to keep up with EU customs and supervision model, revenue collection steps which now focus on security during customs procedure, and improvement of business environment and cutting in clearance time. They noted that 95 % of goods declaration can be done via an e-platform and stressed the importance of international cooperation, including China - EU smart trade project, and the importance of cross border cooperation. In this regard they noted 15 years of EU- China customs cooperation, twinning program and cooperation with Rotterdam customs since 2005 on IPR protection and risk management. The ensuing exchange focussed on IPR and customs procedures to combat counterfeiting, and exchange of best practices and cooperation between EU and China customs authorities in combatting counterfeit. (4) Tuesday was concluded by meeting with senior officials from Shanghai Administration for Industry and Commerce. The delegation was received by Mrs Tao Ailian, Vice- Director and Secretary General of Shanghai Consumer Council and exchanged on consumer protection, unfair trading practices, standards, market surveillance and testing of goods, e- commerce, and rights of consumers of online platforms. The Shanghai Administration for Industry and Commerce is part of Shanghai municipal government, and responsible for the following four tasks: (i) approval of market access and exit, for companies and start-ups, (ii) routine market management for business conduct and information concerning credits of a company; (iii) law enforcement, anticompetitive behavior, IPR infringement, (iv) protection of consumer rights. The Shanghai Consumer Rights Council is a social organization mandated by the law to protect rights of consumers; its work comprises handling consumer complaints, conducting surveys/ questionnaires to consumers, simulation of purchasing behavior, testing quality, including random check of goods on the market, consumer hotline (i.e. 1235) and investigating defects. PE v /5 CM\ docx

3 Wednesday 18 July (5) On its second day in Shanghai the delegation met with with Mr Dailiu, Chairman of the economic and financial Committee, of the Shanghai Municipal People s Congress. The Shanghai Municipal People s Congress (SMPC) is the local legislature of the People s Republic of China (PRC). The function of the SMPC is to ensure the observance and execution of the Constitution of the PRC, laws, administrative rules and regulations, and the resolutions made by the People s Congress at the higher level and its standing committee within the administrative area and guarantee the implementation of national plans and budgets. Members of IMCO delegation exchanged on latest economic developments in China and positioning of Shanghai, EU- China trading partnership, and China Manufacturing (6) The meeting with senior officials of the Shanghai Commission for Economy and Informatisation focused on opportunities and challenges in relation to digital market and AI. Mrs Zhang, from the Division for AI, presented the different divisions of the Commission that focus on informatics and innovation. She spoke about the smart city project in Shanghai comprising smart government, smart living, smart management, and smart transportation, and cloud computing and big data being among priorities for future in order to make the government more business friendly. She noted that Shanghai government issued principle for data sharing and that government data are open to public and citizens. (7) The Shanghai part of the delegation was concluded by a visit to the SAP Labs China. The delegation was greeted by Managing Director, Dr. Li. The SAP has four Lab hubs (in Walldorf, Germany, Silicon Valley, USA, Shanghai, China, and in India) that drive the SAP growth and R&D strategy, and other 16 focused labs. After presentation about the SAP company and about the SAP Labs China, Members of the delegation saw a number of demonstrations of application of AI and machine learning in different sectors and products, among which demonstrations of applications based on cloud, AI, in real time data analysis cloud to cloud connection, etc., showcasing latest developments in digital innovation and innovative approaches to data, IoT and AI across different sectors in designing new connected products and services (energy utilities, e- commerce, open integrated factory, smart traffic, connected worker safety, etc.). The meeting at the SAP Labs concluded the first part of the visit and the delegation continued its visit in Guangzhou. CM\ docx 3/5 PE v01-00

4 Thursday, 19 July, Guangzhou (8) In Guangzhou, the delegation met with senior officials of the Guangzhou Customs District P.R. China which is one of the 42 Customs Districts of the General Administration of Customs of the People s Republic of China (GACC). Guangzhou customs controls comprise maritime transport controls, land transport, air freight customs controls, including container terminals and postal delivery. Guangzhou customs signed an AEO agreement facilitating trade and customs procedures, participates in twinning programs with several EU MSs (UK, Netherlands etc). Under the China-EU smart and secure project agreement (SSPA) companies benefit from priority handling of cargo, from arrival to the pick-up company. Many customs processes are digital, including online customs process to handle cargo clearance, harbor and clearance of mail parcels, with public having access to the online system. Chinese counterparts noted that from 1 January 2018, import of solid waste is banned in China, and that X-ray machines used for screening and enhanced inspections are used to strictly enforce the ban. With regard to fight against smuggling, a smart-system is used to detect weapons, screen agricultural products and fight smuggling and trafficking of solid waste. In case of IPR protection, the customs cooperates with police department, IPR infringements concern medicine. (9) At the Guangzhou Port Authority, the delegation met with senior representatives, lead by Mrs. Yuan Yue, the Deputy Director General of the Guangzhou Port Authority. The Port of Guangzhou is the main seaport of Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, China. The port is operated by Guangzhou Port Group Co. Ltd which is a state owned company. The Guangzhou port is a port from Silk Road period, nowadays, it ranks as the seventh largest port in the world, with 201 container routes and 5.5 million of container units processed in Guangzhou Port cooperates with 41 ports, among which many European ports, including cooperation with Hamburg port on smart port, and a close cooperation with Antwerp. The port has 13 lines with Europe, a representative office in Hague and a joint venture company in the port of Antwerp. (10) While in Guangzhou, the delegation was welcomed by Mr Chen Zhiying, Vice-Mayor of Guangzhou and exchanged on the latest economic developments and projects in Guangzhou, as well as plans for future. The delegation heard about the current industrial pillars of Guangzhou such as petrol industry, chemicals, automobiles, food and textile, about future areas of focus such as AI and biomedical (AIB), new energy and new materials (N), and about Made in China 2025 and its impact on Guangzhou, Guangzhou s policy supporting main tech companies, promotion of industrial cooperation and of industrial parks focusing on smart city, cooperation on industrial robotics, smart industry, and cooperation with automobile companies to develop autonomous cars. (11) The delegation visit in Guangzhou was concluded with a guided tour of Nansha port, one of the outer ports in the Pearl Delta area. The Nansha port is focused on handling cargo (60%). Located in the center of the Pearl River Delta and covering the Pearl River Delta City Complex, Guangzhou's Nansha Port Area plays a vital role in connecting cities that line both banks of the Pearl River, making the Pearl Delta area an important engine of economic growth and an attractive for foreign companies FDI location. The Nansha Terminal is the Port of Guangzhou's leading container terminal serving primarily ocean liners and large domestic liner services. The Port of Guangzhou Container Terminal, Huangpu Old Port, and Xinsha Container Terminal support near-sea services and smaller domestic liners. PE v /5 CM\ docx

5 SAP Labs China Meeting with Shanghai Commission for Economy and Informatisation SAP Labs China Meeting with Chairman Dailiu, Shanghai Municipal Peoples s Congress Meeting with Mr Chen Zhiying, Vice- Mayor of Guangzhou Meeting with Shanghai Customs Meeting with Guangzhou Port Authority Meeting with Guangzhou Customs District CM\ docx 5/5 PE v01-00