The European Union vows to launch an assistance measure for Lithuanian businesses affected by China’s economic sanctions, European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said on Friday while on a visit in Vilnius.
“We believe that what China is doing is not compatible with the WTO rules. But beyond this, we are also yet to use the single market as a solidarity instrument to companies that are losing shares in their business,” Breton said.
“We will only succeed if we are united as 27 [EU member states], and we will make sure that this action against one EU country is an action against the single market,” he added.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė also said she was optimistic about the EU’s chances to help Lithuania in the dispute with China.
“We view the possibilities in this dispute favourably, and we consider ourselves to be on the right side,” the prime minister said during the joint press conference.
In late January, the EU launched a WTO case over China’s “discriminatory trade practices” against Lithuania.
Lithuania-China relations soured after a Taiwanese representative office was opened in Vilnius under the island’s name. In response, China imposed unannounced economic sanctions on Lithuania and a de facto blockade on the country’s imports.
Read more: EU sues China over sanctions against Lithuania
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