2 February 2016 / Today, European Trade Ministers met to discuss Chinese dumping and China’s Market Economy Status (MES) in Brussels. The European Commission presented Ministers with a paper, which downplays potential European job losses to a level between 63,600 and 211,000 jobs if the EU were to grant China MES in 2016.

2 February 2016 / EurActiv's Daniela Vicenti presents the various positions of member states and industry ahead of an EU trade ministers discussion on the market economy status of China in the Netherlands today. Read it in full here.

2 February 2016 / MEPs shared their views on China's request for market economy status in a plenary debate with EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström on 1 February 2016. MEPs maintained that the EU must find a solution, in line with WTO rules, that retains its ability to shield its economy against unfair competition from dumped imports from China, whilst acknowledging it as a strategic trading partner.

30 January 2016 / MEP Manfred Weber, Chair of the EPP Group, explains in IlSole24Ore why China is not a market economy and as such, should not be granted Market Economy Status. He also calls for a full and comprehensive impact assessment. Read the full article here (in Italian).

29 January 2016 / Reuters reports on a European Commission document estimating between 63,600 and 211,000 EU job losses if China were granted MES without mitigating measures. This is a contrast to EPI's findings of 1.7 to 3.5 million EU jobs at risk. As explained in the article, this is because the Commission's estimates were "artificially low, overestimating gains from low-priced imports, failing to factor in the extra jobs that would go in service sectors for every manufacturing job lost and ignoring the deterrent effect the threat of anti-dumping duties had on all Chinese producers." The European Commission must conduct a full impact assessment, including a broad and public consultation, to weigh all options. Read the full article here.

28 January 2016 / The European Parliament's INTA Committee held a hearing on China's Market Economy Status with guest speakers including Professor Robert Scott, author of the EPI study that found that between 1.7 and 3.5 million EU jobs would be at risk if the EU granted China MES unilaterally. Programme | Watch the full debate

14 January 2016 / BUSINESSEUROPE issues a press release following the Commissioners' orientation debate on China's MES. Markus J. Beyrer, Director General of BUSINESSEUROPE, calls for a full impact assessment involving the business community and major trading partners. Read it in full here.

14 January 2016 / The front page of IlSole24Ore's English edition features this article on the truly significant impact that a decision on China's market economy status would have. Journalist Adriana Cerretelli recommends, "When in doubt, it’s better to proceed with caution. Europe is the old economic giant, which already grows less than others globally, hit by an existential crisis with an unknown outcome. In these conditions, instead of strengthening it, a new Chinese electroshock would badly knock it down—especially if, with the anti-dumping defense fallen, the Beijing market economy remained fiction." Read it in full here.

14 January 2016 / Il Sole 24 Ore covers the Commission's statements following the orientation debate on MES in both English and Italian. The article quotes the Commission in saying that the decision will be "carefully assessed" as a decision to grant China market economy status, thereby impacting the method used to calculate anti-dumping duties, “would have an impact on the European economy.” Read the article in English or in Italian.

14 January 2016 / Ryan Heath covers the latest discussions on China's MES in the daily Playbook read by thousands in Brussels and beyond. Scroll down to read "China trade fight ahead", "The trade timeline that won't work" and "What a 'more political' Commission looks like". Read it in full here.

13 January 2016 / Swiss German-language daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung looks at the technical question of China's market economy status and quotes Milan Nitzschke, AEGIS Europe spokesperson, as saying that granting MES would be like the EU giving China "a license to dump". Read the article in full here (in German).

13 January 2016 / Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung published an article on the outcome of the College of Commissioners' orientation debate and the ongoing discussions on the market economy status of China. Read it in full here (in German).

13 January 2016 / France 2 highlights the debate on the market economy status of China and its impact on European jobs during a special two-part segment in the 8pm news. Watch part 1 "Europe: la Chine menace les emplois" and part 2 "Emplois menacés par la Chine: quels sont les secteurs et produits concernés ?" in French.

13 January 2016 / AFP reports on the College of Commissioners' orientation debate on the market economy status of China stating the issue's political sensitivity, considering the impact that it will have on the EU's relationship with the US. AEGIS Europe is also quoted as saying that granting China MES will have "an immense negative impact on European industry". Read the article in full here (in Spanish).

13 January 2016 / Journalist Arnaud Leparmentier from France Inter discusses whether or not China is a market economy with Patrick Artus, Economic Advisor to Chinese Government. Spoiler: it is not. Listen to the radio programme here (in French).

13 January 2016 / El Correo reports on the outcome of the College of Commissioners' orientation debate on the market economy status of China. The European Commission will revisit the issue in the second half of the year, as stated by First Vice-President Timmermans. The article highlights the impact that granting MES would have, namely the removal of the anti-dumping tool, putting hundreds of thousands of EU jobs at risk. Read the full article here (in Spanish).

13 January 2016 / La Tribune, via Reuters, publishes an article on the EU's debate on the market economy status of China and First Vice-President Timmermans' comments following the College of Commissioners' orientation debate. Read in full here (in French).

13 January 2016 / MEP Emmanuel Maurel is interviewed by Marianne on China's bid for market economy status. He warns the EU not to become the "idiot of the planetary village" by granting China MES, considering the repercussions that it would have on European industry and jobs. Read the interview in full here (in French).

13 January 2016 / Financial Times reports on European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans' comments following the College of Commissioners' first 'orientation debate' on the market economy status of China. He predicted that the subject will be revisited in the second half of 2016 due to its importance for international trade and the EU's economy. Read the full article here (subscriber only).

13 January 2016 / Reuters' Philip Blenkinsop and Robin Emmott report on Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans' statements following the orientation debate on the market economy status of China. "This issue has to be looked at from all important angles given the subject's importance for international trade and also for the EU's economy," he stated. Read the full article here.