SIMIC

The chamber said their member firms feared retaliation by Beijing as a result of its political spats with their national governments, according to its annual position paper.

There is a risk of a long-term, downward spiral in relations between China and Europe, which "have the potential to seriously impact European companies", it said.

"Companies are left navigating a political minefield during a health crisis of truly overwhelming proportions, and this situation is becoming more precarious, with the previously isolated voices that were intent on sowing political discontent slowly building into a chorus," it said.

"All of a sudden, we find ourselves not just in a delicate situation in Beijing, as usual, but also now we have a delicate situation on the home front where parliamentarians, public opinion, governments, NGOs are questioning us why we are operating in a country that does A, B, C, D," said chamber president Joerg Wuttke.

Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust on the mend from Covid crisis

EASING health restrictions has eased the decline in cargo volume at Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) from 35 per cent in the initial lockdown period to 16 per cent year on year in August, reports Chennai's Port Wings News Network.

Despite challenges faced, JNPT India's premier container port, lifted 1,643,784 TEU and 694 vessels in the lockdown period through August.

Overall traffic handled at JNPT during the month of August was 4.74 million tonnes as against 5.68 million tonnes in August 2019.

"Ports are an important link in the logistic chain and JNPort has efficiently played this role during the last couple of months and after facing steep contraction, is now on the road to recovery," said JNPT chairman Shri Sanjay Sethi.