China disappointed EU hasn't completely recognised its market economy status

[BEIJING] China is disappointed that the European Union hasn't completely recognised its market economy status, commerce ministry spokesman Shen Danyang said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

The EU and many of China's other trading partners have been debating whether to grant China "market economy status" (MES) from mid-December, which Beijing says is its right 15 years after it joined the World Trade Organization. The United States has said China has not done enough to qualify.

The European Commission proposed on Wednesday a new way to assess whether Chinese manufacturers are exporting products, such as steel, at unfairly low prices.

REUTERS