US-China

Washington and Beijing began formal negotiations towards a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) in June 2008. A year later, the highly sensitive talks were halted until July 2013. The US is interested in getting Chinese restrictions on foreign ownership in about 100 sectors -- from soybean oil and automobiles to life insurance and other financial services -- lifted for US companies which want to expand their market presence there. The Chinese government is interested in getting more security for highly-scrutinised Chinese investments in the US and its massive holdings of US sovereign debt ($1.3 trillion).

In late 2013, China agreed to initiate talks on a possible BIT with the European Union as well.

July 2014


US-China investment treaty faces uncertainties
Completion of BIT talks should wait after the election: experts
China-U.S. BIT talks make significant progress: MOC
Negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between China and the United States have made significant progress, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said.
New report weighs pros, cons of U.S.-China BIT
A U.S.-China bilateral investment treaty could significantly increase investment flows between the world’s two largest economies.
China-U.S. dialogue makes progress in BIT talks, overcapacity, RMB trading
China and the United States have made incremental progress in accelerating bilateral investment treaty talks
China misses deadline for 'negative list' investment offer to U.S.
Chinese officials have missed their own deadline to submit a new offer for a proposed investment treaty that would shrink the number of sectors closed to American investors
US and China close in on a bilateral investment treaty
Chinese officials announced that a US-China bilateral investment treaty (BIT) is close to being signed.
China to put first its investment treaty with US and other agencies
Talks on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) will be high on the agenda during the upcoming annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) between China and the United States in Washington, D.C. and the two sides could seize the opportunity to finalize the deal before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office in January 2017, U.S. experts said.
China 'uncomfortable' with US negative list for investment treaty talks
The US government has outlined key infrastructure, important technology and national security into its negative list where Chinese investment would not be not allowed under the proposed US-China Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)
China, US to exchange negative lists of investment treaty talks
China and the United States are expected to exchange negative lists of bilateral investment treaty (BIT) "this month or next month," which could pave the way for substantial achievement on the negotiations in this regard in September, China's Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao said Friday.
China, US basically complete text negotiation on BIT
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has announced the text of a bilateral investment treaty with the United States has been completed.