With reference to Wärtsilä’s decision to move part of its production from the Netherlands to China, Dutch State Secretary of Trade and Industry Heemskerk (photograph) conducts further investigation into a possible ‘100 Percent China Policy’. Heemskerk wants to know whether such a policy actually exists, what it entails and whether it violates international regulation (WTO).
Heemskerk conducts this investigation because it seems China pressurises foreign companies to move to China. ‘We hope this is not the case, because for an open economy, such as the Netherlands, it is important to uphold fair international regulation without protectionism. China profits from this as well,’ says Heemskerk.
The State Secretary will investigate the matter further and, if necessary, will put it on the agenda of the European Union and the WTO if China does not comply with international regulation.
