Second round of negotiations completed on free trade agreement of Moldova, China

Chisinau, 30 July /MOLDPRES/ – The second round of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and China is completed. Economy and Infrastructure Minister, Chiril Gaburici, has discussed today with members of Moldovan delegation, which negotiated in Chinese capital, Beijing.

During the second round of negotiations, discussions continued on legal text of Agreement. Also, parties exchanged initial lists of defensive character products which are not to be subject to elimination of customs duties. These lists are to be negotiated within next round.

"We need to negotiate correctly. The interest of our country is to expand its market, but not at any price, but in favourable terms for both: us and Chinese side. We know that the Chinese market has over 1.3 billion consumers, we want to export and have a liberalised regime for strategic products such as wine, cereals, dried fruits, animal products, industrial products," said Minister Chiril Gaburici.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure’s information and media communication service, the third round of negotiations will take place in September in Chisinau. The negotiations will focus on rules of origin, market access, technical barriers to trade and commerce protection measures.

According to data, 85 companies with Chinese capital worth almost MDL 4.8 million are active in Moldova. The volume of foreign trade of Moldova with China amounted to $245.5 million in January – May 2018, up by around 36.5 per cent over same period 2017.

(Reporter N. Sandu, editor L. Alcaza)