View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Diposit Digital de Documents de la UAB EUGOV Working paper No. 26/2010 China’s Strategy in North Africa: New economic challenges for the Mediterranean region Eugenia Pecoraro Pecoraro, Eugenia (2010): “China’s strategy in North Africa and future economic challenges for the Mediterranean region”. EUGOV Working Paper, No. 25, November 2010. Bellaterra (Barcelona): Institut Universitari d'Estudis Europeus © Institut Universitari d'Estudis Europeus. Todos los derechos reservados al IUEE. All Rights reserved. 1 China’s Strategy in North Africa: New economic challenges for the Mediterranean region EUGOV Working paper No. 26 Eugenia Pecoraro*
[email protected] Abstract The WP aims to examine why North African countries are increasing their imports from China and why China is increasing its foreign direct investments in the area. The advantages for North African countries lie in the existing free-trade agreements, the absence of tariff barriers and its highly beneficial geographical location as a Mediterranean hub. The role of the Union for the Mediterranean is to identify key aspects of regional policy taking into account the Chinese involvement in the area. As a result we conclude that political actors should find a balance between sustainable development and economic interests in the region. *Eugenia Pecoraro is a MA graduated in “EU-China: Culture and Economy” at the UAB (2010). She is currently working on the EU, the Mediterranean Union and China. 2 INDEX INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 4 1. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ....................................................................... 5 2. BACKGROUND: CHINA-AFRICA RELATIONS ........................................... 6 2.1 Morocco........................................................................................................