EU president Britain hopes the European Union will grant China "market economy" status at a summit in September, its trade minister said today, but the executive European Commission was cool on the idea.
"It would be really good to have that agreed for the summit," British Trade Minister Alan Johnson told reporters after briefing a European Parliament committee.
"We do understand the problems (of) the Commission ... we do want to overcome (them)."
Britain holds the rotating six-month EU presidency and will lead the EU delegation at a summit on September 5th in Beijing.
A Commission official, responding to Mr Johnson's comment, said China was not yet ready to be designated a market economy, which would limit Beijing's liability to high anti-dumping duties.
The EU executive has the sole right of initiative in proposing to grant China the status, which would have to be endorsed by a qualified majority of the 25-nation bloc.
Under terms agreed when China joined the World Trade Organisation in 2001, members of the global trade body can treat China as a "non-market economy" until 2016.
Beijing has lobbied heavily for the "market economy" status in the hope that it would cut the number of anti-dumping suits brought against it.
Brussels and Beijing have had trade spats over surging Chinese exports of cheap textiles, shoes and strawberries since the beginning of the year.
The EU executive is currently investigating suspected dumping of Chinese shoes on the European market.