The trade dispute between Lithuania and China remains unresolved. This now inadvertently pushes the relationship between Brussels and Beijing onto the agenda of the French EU Council presidency. As far as foreign policy is concerned, Paris is focusing on the Indo-Pacific. And there is yet more to come for EU-China relations.
By Amelie Richter
A contradiction is emerging between two green pet projects. The new government wants to expand solar energy on the one hand and enforce human rights in global supply chains on the other. But the solar supply chain is dominated by China. And forced labor appears to be occurring in Xinjiang in the production of the raw material for solar panels. Trade sanctions will hardly solve the problem.
By Nico Beckert
Germany's new government wants to expand solar power – while ensuring human rights in global supply chains. That will be difficult, because the solar supply chain is dominated by China. And the production of the raw material for solar modules appears to involve forced labor in Xinjiang. Trade sanctions will hardly solve the problem.
By Nico Beckert
Not only Covid is to blame, when goods are missing. By setting trade barriers, politics had no small part in the current trade disruptions. IfW Kiel highlights the reasons for the current supply chain problems – and gives a somewhat pessimistic forecast for 2022.
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China's influence on reshaping global supply chains is growing with the pandemic. Concerned about losing access to key components from foreign countries, the People's Republic is increasingly relying on domestic innovation, manufacturing and demand. For multinationals whose investments or exports to China are considered critical by the Chinese government, it will become harder to do business in China as usual.
By Redaktion Table
This week, Brussels was supposed to present its approach to an EU supply chain law - but the presentation of the Commission's proposal was postponed. Meanwhile, the German supply chain law has been passed and will come into force in just over a year. How are companies in China preparing for implementation? There are still a lot of unanswered questions, including how human rights violations will be detected in the first place, says Jens Hildebrandt. The interview was conducted by Amelie Richter.
By Amelie Richter
The digital product passport is intended to bundle environmentally relevant information such as materials or repairability of a product in a digital system. If the capital goods industry is ignored in its conception, bureaucratic chaos could follow, especially for smaller and medium-sized companies, fears VDMA President Karl Haeusgen.
By Redaktion Table
Buyers want to improve quality – and in the worst case they meet suppliers who have no interest in improving their processes. The hardest part is convincing them to take the first step. CMC's experts give advice on how buyers can take action.
By Redaktion Table
In a globalized world, supply chains are one of the most important elements in international trade. In recent years, working conditions and human rights violations in supply chains have caused a stir. The question arises whether Western companies profit from the treatment of workers in China that violates human rights. But it is no longer just about the forced labor of the ethnic minority of the Uyghurs in the cultivation of cotton. In the meantime, large corporations such as Apple and Volkswagen are being targeted. In addition to the European investment agreement CAI (Comprehensive Agreement on Investment) and a planned supply chain law for German companies, Western countries are taking action with sanctions and boycotts against China, but also against the companies involved. But the coronavirus pandemic has also affected supply chains. There have been increased supply bottlenecks and empty shelves worldwide. China wants to counter this with a state-owned logistics company called China Logistics Group. From EU supply laws to human rights violations and sanctions to suppliers and trade strategies - news and articles on China supply chains up to date from the Table.editorial team!
