Lex China sunk

class=”sc-29f61514-0 kHgAwW”>

The Chinese economy is growing and growing – and with it the hunger for lucrative investments abroad. Already in March it became known that Chinese investors are interested in buying a water source in Turtmann US.

There is resistance to such plans from parties from the center to the left. SP People’s Councilor Cédric Wermuth (37, AG) has launched an initiative entitled “No sale of drinking water sources to foreign investors”. The “Lex China” of the Central Council of States Beat Rieder (60, USA) pursues a similar concern.

China on a shopping tour

More and more Swiss companies belong to Chinese investors. The Basel-based seed manufacturer Syngenta or the aircraft maintenance company SR Technics are just two examples out of many. Actually a logical consequence of the free market economy and globalization. But this development also brings dangers.

The main concern is that of over-dependence on a single country. Switzerland already relies heavily on the Middle Kingdom for global supply chains. Particularly explosive: Many Chinese companies are very close to the state or even directly controlled by the communist party. There is therefore a risk of political influence from the authoritarian one-party regime.

This influence – if it becomes too great – could become a problem for Switzerland. The danger becomes even greater when the item sold is not ‘just’ a company, but something as essential as a water source, for example.

The National Council and the Council of States want restrictions

Wermuth would therefore like to know from the Federal Council how many Swiss water sources are already in foreign hands. It should also be clarified which legislative changes can be used to prevent sales from sources abroad – or reverse sales that have already taken place.

Rieder’s “Lex China” deals with the general sale of important Swiss companies to foreign investors. Rieder wants the sale of companies important to Switzerland or close to the state to be approved by the federal government in the future. Both councils have approved the “Lex China”.

Federal Council fears economic loss

In both cases, the Bundesrat does not care about the plans of the parliamentarians. With Wermuth’s initiative, he is mainly referring to the responsibility of the cantons for the water supply. He sees “no need for action at the moment”. And this, although he does not know how many feathers have already been sold. “That seems to me to be an underestimation of the problem,” says Wermuth. He will raise the issue again in the Committee on Economic Affairs.

In both approaches, the Federal Council fears a disadvantage for Switzerland as a location. During the implementation, he literally cut the “Lex China”. For example, only in the armaments, electricity, health or telecommunications sectors should the state check whether there is a risk of espionage.

Source:Blick