"They can dramatize and politicize each case and the entire atmosphere. Or they can accept that in a major commercial relationship there will inevitably be some, or even a lot of, disputes."

However, there are dispute settlement procedures, Fouquet says. "I take a long frame of reference, and over the decades I have seen numerous trade disputes between Europe and Japan, the US, Korea and even earlier ones over shoes and other products with China."

Those difficulties were eventually overcome, he says.

"All major trading nations have come to realize that they have to manage these problems and balance them with the advantages of maintaining a sound relationship."

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Nevertheless, Fouquet says, the current imbroglio comes during a serious economic downturn and as the EU is engaged in numerous trade negotiations, and that could test its mettle and its solidarity.

In China, resentment is rising toward the EU over its hard line on trade. Men Jing, professor of EU-China relations of the College of Europe in Belgium, says this has been felt in academic and people-to-people exchanges.

"At times recently the debate has simply been unhealthy. Both sides seem to have been locked in a dispute over determining a winner and a loser."

Given the huge amount of trade involved, Men says it is normal that there will be disputes.

"That doesn't matter; what really matters is proper, commonsense attitudes in managing disputes and keeping relations on an even keel. Politicians and opinion leaders on both sides need to contribute constructively to finding solutions rather than merely complaining and venting their anger."

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

( China Daily European Weekly 06/21/2013 page1)