EU Hails Breakthrough With China on Industry Subsidies

EU Hails Breakthrough With China on Industry Subsidies
(L-R) European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, and European Council President Donald Tusk give a joint press after an EU-China summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels on April 9, 2019. John Thys/AFP/Getty Images
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BRUSSELS—Chinese Premier Li Keqiang promised the European Union on April 9 that Beijing would no longer force foreign companies to share sensitive know-how when operating in China and was ready to discuss new global trading rules on industrial subsidies.

Marking a significant shift, Li’s pledge at the annual EU-China leaders’ meeting follows similar offers to the United States and potentially signals an opening for which European companies have long lobbied.