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Although European Union's trade and investment relations with China are very dynamic and promising, European and Chinese companies are not competing on the same level playing field. One of the main reasons for this is China’s state driven approach to develop its economy. The EU has to decide whether China should be formally designated a 'market economy' by the end of next year. This step would make it much harder to protect local companies via antidumping measures against low-priced imports from China. Antidumping duties would at least drop to a lower level and – in certain cases – become completely impossible. Several questions arise in this context: Does the Chinese accession protocol to the World Trade Organization require all members to designate the market economy status (MES) to this country? Which impact would the MES of China have on the European economy? What would be the consequences if the EU decided to deny China the MES? Which position is the USA likely to take in this politically very delicate issue? These and other questions will be discussed during the workshop.