26 July 2010: In the framework of the EU-China Civil Society Round Table, a seminar on trade and development was held in Shanghai, China, from 22-24 July 2010, to address trade and development, trade and climate change, and investment and cooperation.

On trade and climate change, participants underlined that: the EU and China should increase their cooperation to fight against climate change, with trade being a useful instrument to promote green growth; trade of environmental goods and services should be promoted, in particular wind and hydroelectric turbines, solar-powered boilers, solar panels, seawater desalination plants and wastewater reuse and treatment; and in the framework of WTO negotiations, the EU and China should cooperate to find an agreement to lower tariff barriers, concentrating on reducing obstacles to investment and non-tariff barriers that continue to seriously hamper the spread of environmentally friendly products. [EU Press Release]