Latest news with #faircompetition
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
EU climate VP seeks ‘fair competition' with China on green energy
The European Commission's Teresa Ribera vowed that the EU would defend the interests of its companies, society and businesses. (EPA Images pic) BEIJING : The EU is seeking 'fair competition' with China and not a race to the bottom in wages and environmental standards, the bloc's vice president for the clean transition told AFP on Monday. Deep frictions exist over economic relations between the 27-nation bloc and Beijing. Brussels is worried that a manufacturing glut propelled by massive state subsidies could add to a yawning trade deficit and result in a flood of cheap Chinese goods undercutting European firms. Speaking during a visit to Beijing ahead of a major EU-China summit in the city this month, Teresa Ribera dismissed China's claims that the bloc was engaging in 'protectionism'. 'We Europeans don't want to go down a race towards low incomes, lower labour rights or lower environmental standards,' said Ribera, who also serves as the bloc's competition chief. 'It is obvious that we could not be in a good position if there could be an … over-flooding in our markets that could undermine us with prices that do not reflect the real cost,' she said. The EU imposed extra import taxes of up to 35% on Chinese electric vehicle imports in October and has investigated Chinese-owned solar panel manufacturers. Asked whether EU moves against Chinese green energy firms could harm the global transition to renewables, Ribera said: 'It is fair to say that, yes, we may benefit in the very short term.' However, she also warned 'it could kill the possibility' of long-term investment in the bloc's future. Global disruption Ribera's visit comes as Beijing seeks to improve relations with the EU as a counterweight to superpower rival the US, whose president Donald Trump has disrupted the global order and pulled Washington out of international climate accords. 'I don't think that we have witnessed many occasions in the past where a big economy, a big country, decides to isolate in such a relevant manner,' she told AFP. 'It is a pity.' 'The Chinese may think that the US has given them a great opportunity to be much more relevant in the international arena,' Ribera said. The visit also comes as the bloc and the US wrangle over a trade deal. Trump threw months of negotiations into disarray on Saturday by announcing he would hammer the bloc with sweeping tariffs if no agreement was reached by Aug 1. Ribera vowed on Monday that the EU would 'defend the interests of our companies, our society, our business'. Asked if a deal was in sight, she said: 'Who knows? We'll do our best.' However, she insisted that EU digital competition rules – frequently condemned by Trump as 'non-tariff barriers' to trade – were not on the table. 'It's a question of sovereignty,' Ribera said. 'We are not going to compromise on the way we understand that we need to defend our citizens and our society, our values and our market.'
CNN
5 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
Chinese swimmers dope-tested the most ahead of World Aquatics Championships
Chinese swimmers took more anti-doping tests this year than swimmers from any other country ahead of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore this month, the Aquatics Integrity Unit said in a report. From January 1, Chinese swimmers had an average of 8.8 anti-doping tests versus those from the US who were tested 4.1 times and those from Britain who were tested 2.2 times, the report showed. Swimmers competing as neutrals – mainly those with Russian nationality – were tested 8.2 times on average. In total, the Aquatics Integrity Unit conducted 4,018 anti-doping tests on athletes participating in the Singapore event scheduled for July 11 to 22. 'The report underscores World Aquatics unwavering commitment to fair competition and the highest standards of integrity in aquatic sport,' it said. The China Swimming Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's swimming team has faced heightened scrutiny since revelations in April 2024 that 23 swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication in 2021 but were permitted to compete in the Tokyo Olympics that year. The World Anti-Doping Agency accepted the findings of a Chinese investigation that the results were due to contamination from a hotel kitchen. An independent review backed WADA's handling of the case. Testing will remain in force until the end of the event, with 830 samples to be collected during 24 days of competition, the Aquatics Integrity Unit said. China's male freestyle sprinter Wang Haoyu was tested 13 times, while 200 meter breaststroke world record holder Qin Haiyang was tested 12 times, the report showed.
CNN
5 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
Chinese swimmers dope-tested the most ahead of World Aquatics Championships
Chinese swimmers took more anti-doping tests this year than swimmers from any other country ahead of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore this month, the Aquatics Integrity Unit said in a report. From January 1, Chinese swimmers had an average of 8.8 anti-doping tests versus those from the US who were tested 4.1 times and those from Britain who were tested 2.2 times, the report showed. Swimmers competing as neutrals – mainly those with Russian nationality – were tested 8.2 times on average. In total, the Aquatics Integrity Unit conducted 4,018 anti-doping tests on athletes participating in the Singapore event scheduled for July 11 to 22. 'The report underscores World Aquatics unwavering commitment to fair competition and the highest standards of integrity in aquatic sport,' it said. The China Swimming Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's swimming team has faced heightened scrutiny since revelations in April 2024 that 23 swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication in 2021 but were permitted to compete in the Tokyo Olympics that year. The World Anti-Doping Agency accepted the findings of a Chinese investigation that the results were due to contamination from a hotel kitchen. An independent review backed WADA's handling of the case. Testing will remain in force until the end of the event, with 830 samples to be collected during 24 days of competition, the Aquatics Integrity Unit said. China's male freestyle sprinter Wang Haoyu was tested 13 times, while 200 meter breaststroke world record holder Qin Haiyang was tested 12 times, the report showed.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
EU climate VP seeks ‘fair competition' with China on green energy
BEIJING: The European Union is seeking "fair competition" with China and not a race to the bottom in wages and environmental standards, the bloc's vice president for the clean transition told AFP on Monday. Deep frictions exist over economic relations between the 27-nation bloc and Beijing. Brussels is worried that a manufacturing glut propelled by massive state subsidies could add to a yawning trade deficit and result in a flood of cheap Chinese goods undercutting European firms. Speaking during a visit to Beijing ahead of a major EU-China summit in the city this month, Teresa Ribera dismissed China's claims that the bloc was engaging in "protectionism". "We Europeans don't want to go down a race towards low incomes, lower labour rights or lower environmental standards," said Ribera, who also serves as the bloc's competition chief. "It is obvious that we could not be in a good position if there could be an ... over-flooding in our markets that could undermine us with prices that do not reflect the real cost," she said. The EU imposed extra import taxes of up to 35 percent on Chinese electric vehicle imports in October and has investigated Chinese-owned solar panel manufacturers. Asked whether EU moves against Chinese green energy firms could harm the global transition to renewables, Ribera said: "It is fair to say that, yes, we may benefit in the very short term." However, she also warned "it could kill the possibility" of long-term investment in the bloc's future. Ribera's visit comes as Beijing seeks to improve relations with the European Union as a counterweight to superpower rival the United States, whose President Donald Trump has disrupted the global order and pulled Washington out of international climate accords. "I don't think that we have witnessed many occasions in the past where a big economy, a big country, decides to isolate in such a relevant manner," she told AFP. "It is a pity. "The Chinese may think that the United States has given them a great opportunity to be much more relevant in the international arena," Ribera said. The visit also comes as the bloc and the United States wrangle over a trade deal. Trump threw months of negotiations into disarray on Saturday by announcing he would hammer the bloc with sweeping tariffs if no agreement was reached by August 1. Ribera vowed on Monday that the EU would "defend the interests of our companies, our society, our business". Asked if a deal was in sight, she said: "Who knows? We'll do our best." However, she insisted that EU digital competition rules -- frequently condemned by Trump as "non-tariff barriers" to trade -- were not on the table. "It's a question of sovereignty," Ribera said. "We are not going to compromise on the way we understand that we need to defend our citizens and our society, our values and our market."
Japan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
China swimmers dope-tested most ahead of World Aquatics Championships
Chinese swimmers took more anti-doping tests this year than swimmers from any other country ahead of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore this month, the Aquatics Integrity Unit said in a report. From Jan. 1, Chinese swimmers had an average of 8.8 anti-doping tests versus those from the U.S. who were tested 4.1 times and those from Britain who were tested 2.2 times, the report showed. Swimmers competing as neutrals — mainly those with Russian nationality — were tested 8.2 times on average. In total, the Aquatics Integrity Unit conducted 4,018 anti-doping tests on athletes participating in the Singapore event scheduled for July 11 to 22. "The report underscores World Aquatics unwavering commitment to fair competition and the highest standards of integrity in aquatic sport," it said. The China Swimming Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's swimming team has faced heightened scrutiny since revelations in April that 23 swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication in 2021 but were permitted to compete in the Tokyo Olympics that year. The World Anti-Doping Agency accepted the findings of a Chinese investigation that the results were due to contamination from a hotel kitchen. An independent review backed WADA's handling of the case. Testing will remain in force until the end of the event, with 830 samples to be collected during 24 days of competition, the Aquatics Integrity Unit said. China's male freestyle sprinter Wang Haoyu was tested 13 times, while 200 meter breaststroke world record holder Qin Haiyang was tested 12 times, the report showed.
