MARCH EUROPEAN INDUSTRY FOR JOBS AND FAIR TRADE: STOP CHINA DUMPING, STOP CHINA MES 15 February 2016, Brussels What is dumping? What is Market Economy Status for China”? European industry has already lost millions of manufacturing jobs to China. The question now facing the European Commission is whether to grant China ‘Market Economy Status’ (MES) in 2016. If surrendered, China MES could cost the EU millions of jobs and hundreds of billions of euros in lost growth. Granting MES to China requires a legislative change in EU law, so the Chinese government argues that process should begin now in order to be ready by December 2016. We are committed to European manufacturing as the fundamental driver of innovation, environmental sustainability, growth and jobs in Europe. We also support the principle of fair competition through free and fair trade. We are calling on EU leaders to deny Market Economy Status (MES) to China, as it simply is not yet a market economy. Granting MES to China would eliminate Europe’s ability to stop Chinese dumping. Deprived of targeted EU anti-­‐dumping measures, China would fatally undermine Europe’s industrial base and threaten European jobs. This march will provide a unique opportunity for employers and employees to tell European decision makers to not to grant China Market Economy Status in December 2016. What’s happening? A march in Brussels by European industry employees and employers to show support for jobs and fair trade, and to stop China being granted Market Economy Status (MES) by the European Union. When? 15 February 2016 at 11.30am CET [assembly from 10am CET] Where? Brussels: Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Schuman area. March begins at Avenue Joyeuse Entrée MARCHERS HANDBOOK_FINAL[1].Docx – 10 February 2016 Page | 1 Why are we marching? The EUROPEAN INDUSTRY FOR JOBS AND FAIR TRADE, STOP CHINA DUMPING, STOP CHINA MES MARCH seeks to convince the EU that granting Market Economy Status to China – at least until it becomes a true market economy that respects basic environmental standards – is a poor political and economic move. 1. INTERNATIONAL TRADE MUST BE FREE & FAIR • The EU faced a record trade deficit with China in 2015 of over €180 billion, even without MES. This imbalance is growing as a result of massive Chinese dumping. • Chinese overproduction is dumped on foreign markets to sustain unviable jobs and growth in China. • China exports its overcapacity at predatory prices below the real cost of production to Europe’s open market to gain market share and to undermine competition. China abuses the principles of free and fair trade. 2. CHINA IS NOT A MARKET ECONOMY • The EU has set out 5 criteria that determine whether a country is a market economy. According to the EU’s own assessment, China does not meet the criteria because of state intervention in markets and prices. • China is not a market economy and does not practise Fair Trade. It should not be granted MES at the end of 2016. 3. DUMPING DESTROYS JOBS ALONG WITH FREE AND FAIR INTERNATIONAL TRADE • China’s dumping undermines free and fair trade. A company is dumping if it exports a product to the EU at prices lower than the normal value of the product (the domestic prices of the product or the cost of production) on its own domestic market. • The European industry for free & fair trade: stop China dumping, stop China MES march will highlight the many jobs at risk of being lost in European manufacturing due to unfair competition and trade from China. • THE EU MUST NOT GRANT MES TO CHINA • China MES would leave the EU defenceless. MES would severely undermine the effectiveness of the EU’s trade defence system and expose the EU market to effectively unrestricted Chinese dumping. Current anti-­‐dumping measures safeguard tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs in Europe, with thousands more in sectors or product types still undefended. • China MES would increase CO2 emissions. Chinese manufacturing (which is 80% based on coal) is much more detrimental to the environment than EU production (28% based on coal). The replacement of European domestic steel production by imports of Chinese steel causes around 43% more CO2 emissions. MARCHERS HANDBOOK_FINAL[1].Docx – 10 February 2016 Page | 2 How many people will be involved in the March? 1. Around 5000 people from 15 countries in the European Union will participate. What’s the route? What’s expected of participating Marchers? •
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Every marcher will need to be wearing a workers helmet and company work jacket Marchers will be given flags, banners and placards to carry – these will, where possible, be in their national language – though several European languages are represented Horns, whistles and megaphones will also be handed out – Marchers are encouraged to use these as much as possible during the March. Marchers will follow the instructions of March leaders at all times and show respect to the citizens of Brussels and to the public spaces. Medical teams are on standby in the event of any medical emergency Marchers are asked to follow their Team Leader and to check in upon arrival at Parc du Cinquantenaire, and upon departure to ensure that all Marchers are accounted for Each individual is responsible for his or her actions – we expect Marchers to remain polite and explain, if asked, what the meaning of the demonstration is The March will commence at 11:30am and will conclude at 14:30. Marchers will leave Brussels at 15h. It is each individual Marcher’s responsibility to remain with their allocated group. You should check in and out with your march Team Leader to ensure that everyone’s safety, security and travel arrangements are secure. MARCHERS HANDBOOK_FINAL[1].Docx – 10 February 2016 Page | 3 Schedule 09:00am – March Organisers meeting – Eurofer, Dober Partners, Of’Cores – at Parc du Cinquantenaire 10am -­‐ 11:30am Gathering of marchers commences at Parc du Cinquantenaire and at Avenue de La Joyeuse Entrée. 11:00 + 11:25am: Team Leaders’ Briefing with Brussels Police 11:30am – March commences and moves along the outside of Parc du Cinquantenaire towards Rond Point Schuman 11:45am – 12:00pm -­‐ Marchers stop before Rond Point Schuman in front of the European Council and Berlaymont Buildings (Office President of the European Commission and College of Commissioners). 14:00pm March ends back at Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée/Parc du Cinquantenaire. March Coordinators Briefing with Belgian Authorities March Team Leaders will be provided with a briefing with Police and Local Authorities on February 15 with the first briefing taking place at 11am. The second briefing will take place at 11:25am. The purpose of the briefing is for the Police and Belgian Authorities to provide important information to Marchers. These briefings will take place at the briefing area indicated on the floor plan Notes for the marchers Catering Food is provided for marchers from EUROFER members. Marchers from other sectors must provide their own meals and drinks. March organisers are working closely with the Belgian authorities to ensure the safety and security of the March. NO ALCOHOL A zero tolerance policy applies to alcohol. No alcohol may be brought onto the company bus, purchased during the March or consumed during the March. NO VIOLENCE Belgian authorities will not be visible during the March however they will be present and working closely with the March Team Leaders identified (1 Team Leader per 25 Marchers). There is a zero tolerance policy for violence. Individuals who cause public unrest will be immediately dealt with by March Coordinators, March Organisers and the Belgian Authorities. Marchers are reminded that MARCHERS HANDBOOK_FINAL[1].Docx – 10 February 2016 Page | 4 they are responsible for their own behaviour and that they are there representing their country and company. NO FIREWORKS For security and public safety reasons, fire crackers and/or fireworks are forbidden on the march. These sounds can easily be mistaken for acts of terrorism. Marchers are requested to assist the authorities and March organisers in maintaining the best level of safety and security during the March. Transportation information By metro Take the metro line 1 or 5 until metro stop Mérode. Walk into the directions of the arc inside the Cinquantenaire Park. (8min walk) By train From Brussels central station, take the metro line 1 Stockel or 5 Hermann-­‐Debroux until metro stop Mérode. Walk into the directions of the arc inside the Cinquantenaire Park. (8min walk) By coach GPS coordinates: Latitude: 50.8388 Longitude: 4.39283 Address: Parc du Cinquantenaire 11, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Accessible by Avenue des Gaulois 1, 1040 Brussels March Coordinators Information o March coordinators arriving by bus will receive their info kit when the bus arrives on the Esplanade. Lunch boxes and promotional equipment will need to be picked up by the March coordinator himself at the info point. o March coordinators arriving by other transportation will need to pick up their info kit, lunch boxes and promotional equipment at the info point. MARCHERS HANDBOOK_FINAL[1].Docx – 10 February 2016 Page | 5 MARCHERS HANDBOOK_FINAL[1].Docx – 10 February 2016 Page | 6