Mandelson urges China to open markets

European Union trade chief Peter Mandelson has urged China to open its markets to EU goods and quell piracy and counterfeiting.

“In Europe we need to keep our markets open to fair trade from China, but that also means China opening its markets more to European exports, and of course to enforce intellectual property rights,” Mandelson said after talks with Chinese trade minister Bo Xilai.

Trade relations between the EU and China threatened to sour earlier this year during a fight over the volumes of textiles China exported to Europe.

Tensions currently simmer over cheap Chinese shoes suspected of being sold into the EU at unfairly low prices.

Europe’s car industry has also complained that Beijing is restricting European activity in China.