China Sets Rollback Of Foreign Ownership Caps On Auto Joint-Ventures.
BEIJING -- China unveiled late Thursday a long-anticipated easing of foreign investment curbs in the auto industry and other key sectors as Beijing moves to open its markets further.
China's National Development and Reform Commission published on its website a new version of the so-called negative list, which sets out industries where foreign investment is limited or prohibited, that will take effect July 28.
In addition to confirming already announced pledges to fully remove ownership limits on industries such car and light-truck production within the next three to five years, China is also easing or removing ownership caps on businesses including ship and aircraft manufacturing and power grids.
The policy enacted two decades ago capped foreign investment at 50 percent, helping local brands develop manufacturing expertise while still profiting from sales of foreign marques.
The announcement comes amid increasing scrutiny from China's top trading partners including the United States and the European Union that have criticized the imbalance in market access. They have argued that Chinese companies have been largely allowed to invest freely in their markets while China limits foreign companies' ability to enter the world's second-largest economy.
Since China, the world’s biggest new-vehicle market, disclosed plans last spring to remove caps on local auto joint ventures, leading global automakers such as General Motors, Volkswagen Group, Daimler, BMW Group and Ford Motor Co. have indicated they plan no major changes under partnerships with local companies.
In trade talks between a U.S. delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and senior Chinese officials in early May, the Trump administration officials asked China not to distort trade through investment restrictions, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters at the time.
China has repeatedly said it will continue market reforms at its own pace, stressing that it will make and implement decisions on opening its markets based on its needs and not because
of external pressure.
Foreign businesses say progress has been slow and pledges of wider access have been reiterations of previously announced reforms that are long overdue.
Credit Source; automotivenewschina
