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Talking EU China trade in cosmetics

  • Last updated: October 26, 2016

Cosmetics Europe is in China this week, supporting a DG Grow mission aimed at increasing opportunities for Europe, in what is still the world’s fastest growing major economy.

The mission comes at a time when the future of international trade seems as clear as the Beijing smog. CETA almost collapsed. TTIP is on life support. Figures published this week show that the volume of international trade as a proportion of global GDP is actually declining. And many are all too ready to blame globalization for everything from the rise of Donald Trump to Brexit.

But for a European flagship industry like cosmetics and personal care, removing obstacles to export is crucial to promoting growth, protecting jobs and encouraging investment. All the more so when Chinese consumers show a strong appetite for European products and brands in our sector.

The vast majority of the work in freeing up trade is painstaking, detailed and highly technical. Our aim is to try to make sure the rules applied by the Chinese authorities are proportionate, and fair to European companies. Often, this means sharing knowledge and best practice about how we ensure safety back in the EU.

So this week Cosmetics Europe has addressed a wide range of topics with officials in China responsible for Cosmetic safety – testing hair dyes, labeling sunscreens, calculating consumer exposures, updating each other on new rules and standards, to name a few – all with the aim of ensuring the highest levels protection for Chinese consumers, while making it easier for our companies to enter the Chinese market. It is the kind of work that doesn’t make headlines, or interest protesters very much. But it brings with it the potential for real benefits to our industry and therefore to the European economy.

 

 

John Chave, Director General, Cosmetics Europe

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