European Commission says the EU’s debate on whether to grant China "Market Economy Status" may come in the second half of 2016. [File Photo: sina.com]

The European Union's debate on whether to grant China "Market Economy Status" is likely to come in the second half of this year.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says the issue has to be looked at from all important angles, given the subject is important not only for international trade but also for the EU's economy.

The issue on whether to grant China MES is an important step for the bloc to change methods to calculate its dumping rates imposed on imported Chinese product starting next year.

The current rules that the EU adopted to calculate dumping margins on Chinese product will expire in December.