Helena König, Deputy DG, Directorate General of Trade, European Commission

Over the last year, the European Commission has had to contend with a range of challenges, including the COVID-19 crisis, the Brexit deal, a volatile relationship with the US, and increasing pressure from member states to clarify its China strategy.

The recent conclusion of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) was described by Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen as “an important landmark” in the EU’s relationship with China, with the latter agreeing to various ambitious provisions on market access and sustainable development. The wide-ranging deal, however, irked members of the Trump Administration, and its impact on EU-US relations under President Biden remains to be seen.

To update Corporate Members on these issues and the European Commission’s Asia trade strategy, Asia House will welcome back Helena König, Deputy Director General of the Directorate-General for Trade in the European Commission, for a digital briefing on 23 February.

Speaking from Brussels, König will share insights on the recently concluded CAI, and how it fits into the European Commission’s approach towards China. She will also outline the role of other Asian economies in the Commission’s trade strategy and the significance of trade deals such as the RCEP and CPTPP.

König has had a long career covering the intricacies of Asia-EU trade. She has been Deputy Director-General of the Directorate General of Trade since May 2018. From 2015 to 2018 she was Director for Asia and Latin America. Prior to that, she served as Head of Unit for South and South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and Head of Unit for the Far East covering China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia.

This digital briefing is held exclusively for Asia House Corporate Members. To register interest in attending, please contact Edward Danks at edward.danks@asiahouse.co.uk