European Union Chamber of Commerce in China

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (European Chamber) is a member-driven, non-profit organisation that represents European Union and European companies doing business in China. It was established in 2000, and is headquartered in Beijing, with regional chapters in Nanjing, Shanghai, Shenyang, South China (Guangzhou and Shenzhen), Southwest China (Chengdu and Chongqing) and Tianjin, and currently has more than 1,700 members.

The European Chamber aims to ensure greater market access and a level playing field for European companies, and to improve the overall business environment for all. It provides a platform for European companies to connect with each other, to share best practices, and to engage with policymakers and regulators in both China and the European Union.

The organisation’s core competence is advocacy, through its horizontal-issue- and industry-focussed working groups. The European Chamber provides feedback and recommendations to the Chinese and European governments on issues such as market access, intellectual property rights and competition policy.

The European Chamber also provides a range of business intelligence services and activities for its members. These include providing analysis of policy and macroeconomic developments, and monitoring China’s compliance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international commitments. The organisation’s two major annual publications are the European Business in China Position Paper and the Business Confidence Survey.

The chamber also organises working group meetings, conferences, seminars, networking events, business delegations, and training and development programmes, and is a consortium partner of the China IPR SME Helpdesk and the EU SME Centre, both projects funded by the European Union.

Publications

Business Intelligence: The European Chamber produces a wide range of publications on issues related to doing business in China. These publications provide valuable insights and information for European companies operating in China to help them make informed business decisions and stay up to date with the latest developments. They also include constructive recommendations for government and other stakeholders in China and the European Union.

Some of the main publications produced by the European Chamber include:

Position papers: The Chamber’s working groups produce annual position papers, which provide concrete recommendations to policymakers on how to improve the business environment in China. (Link)
Business confidence surveys: The Chamber conducts annual business confidence surveys, which provide insights into the experiences and expectations of European companies operating in China. These surveys cover a range of topics, including market access, the regulatory environment, and financial and investment outlooks. (Link)
Thematic reports: The Chamber produces reports on specific topics that are of interest to its members, which include research and development, carbon neutrality, standardisation and decoupling. These reports provide in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing European companies, as well as recommendations to Chinese and EU authorities. (Link)
Press releases: The Chamber publishes press releases on a regular basis. (Link)
EURObiz: The bi-monthly journal of the European Chamber, accessible via its own website, in PDF format from the Chamber’s website, and in print.
Regular newsletters: Both at a national and local level through the Chamber’s seven chapters across China.

Podcasts: The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China has its own podcasts (China Dispatches and China ShortCuts), which provide valuable insights and analysis on the latest developments in the Chinese business environment, covering a wide range of topics, including market trends, policy updates, industry analysis, and interviews with business leaders and experts. (Link)

Services

The European Chamber of Commerce in China offers a wide range of benefits to its members, aimed at helping European companies navigate the complex business environment in China and promote their interests. With a network of over 1,600 member companies, the Chamber provides access to valuable business services, advocacy and lobbying activities, networking opportunities, and information and research services. (Link)
One of the key benefits of membership in the Chamber is access to a vast network of European companies operating in China. Members have the opportunity to participate in a range of business events, including seminars, conferences, and networking events, which provide valuable opportunities to connect with potential business partners. The Chamber also offers business matchmaking services, which can help members find the right partners and resources to support their business operations in China. (Link)
In addition to networking opportunities, the Chamber provides a range of business services to its members. These services include legal and accounting support, market entry services, and regulatory and compliance advice. By providing access to these services, the Chamber helps members navigate the complex regulatory environment in China and find the resources they need to succeed. The Chamber is also actively engaged in advocacy and lobbying activities on behalf of its members. This includes lobbying for policy changes, providing input on proposed regulations, and engaging with policymakers and regulators in China. By advocating for policies and regulations that support European business interests in China, the Chamber helps its members succeed in the challenging business environment in China.
In addition to advocacy and lobbying, the Chamber produces a range of publications, including reports, surveys, and newsletters, which provide valuable insights into the business environment in China. Members also have access to a range of information and research services, including databases, market reports, and industry analysis. By providing access to this information, the Chamber helps members make informed business decisions and stay up to date on the latest developments in the Chinese market. Finally, membership in the Chamber provides members with access to a range of discounts and special offers on a variety of products and services. This includes discounts on hotel accommodation, travel, and insurance, among other things. By providing access to these discounts, the Chamber helps members save money and reduce their costs of doing business in China. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China has launched its own podcast to provide valuable insights and analysis on the latest developments in the Chinese business environment. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including market trends, policy updates, industry analysis, and interviews with business leaders and experts. (Link)

Membership Benefits

One of the key benefits of membership in the Chamber is access to a vast network of European companies operating in China. Members have the opportunity to participate in a range of business events, including seminars, conferences and networking events. The Chamber also offers business matchmaking services, which can help members find the right partners and resources to support their business operations in China. (Link)
In addition to networking opportunities, the Chamber provides a range of business services to its members. These services include legal and accounting support, market entry services, and regulatory and compliance advice. By providing access to these services, the Chamber helps members navigate the complex regulatory environment in China and find the resources they need to succeed. The Chamber is also actively engaged in advocacy and lobbying activities on behalf of its members. This includes lobbying for policy changes, providing input on proposed regulations, and engaging with policymakers and regulators in China. By advocating for policies and regulations that support European business interests in China, the Chamber helps its members succeed in the challenging business environment in China.

Advocacy

The Chamber is actively engaged in advocacy activities on behalf of its members. This includes advocating for policy changes, providing input on proposed regulations, and engaging with policymakers and regulators in China and the European Union. By advocating for policies and regulations that support European business interests in China, the Chamber helps its members succeed in China’s challenging business environment. (Link)

Around 300 engagements with government stakeholders take place annually. (Link)

Working Groups: The Chamber facilitates various working groups, which bring together member companies operating in specific industry sectors or affected by horizontal issues. It has a total of 48 groups (including working groups, sub-working groups, desks and fora), divided into seven categories: (Link)

Horizontal Issues (10 groups: Compliance and Business Ethics; Cybersecurity (Sub-working Group); Environment; Finance and Taxation; Human Resources; Intellectual Property Rights; Investment; Legal and Competition; Research and Development; Standards and Conformity Assessment)
- Goods (12 groups: Agriculture, Food and Beverage; Auto Components; Automotive; Aviation and Aerospace; Carbon Market (Sub-working Group); Cosmetics; Energy; Healthcare Equipment; Maritime Manufacturing & Industrial Services; Petrochemicals, Chemicals and Refining; Pharmaceutical; Rail)
- Services (five groups: Construction; Information and Communication Technology; International Liner Shipping (Sub-working Group); Logistics; Quality and Safety Services (Sub-working Group))
- Financial Services (three groups: Banking and Securities; Insurance; Non-Banking Financial Institutions)
- Fora (nine groups: Corporate Social Responsibility; Finance and Taxation; Government Affairs; Human Resources; Manufacturing; Marketing and Communications; Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; Sourcing; Sports)
- Industry Desks (nine groups: COCIR; Consumable and Disposable Medical Devices (CDMD); Cosmetics Advisory Committee/ Project Team; Dairy Industry (Sub-working Group); Fashion and Leather; FSMP Advisory Committee (Sub-working Group); Heating (Sub-working Group); Pediatric Nutrition (Sub-working Group); Turku Region China Desk)