EU trade chief to visit Beijing on Oct 8-9 to tackle tensions

EU Trade Chief Maros Sefcovic is set to visit Beijing on October 8-9 to address trade concerns and tensions between the European Union and China. During his trip, he will meet with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao to discuss issues such as the management of Chinese exports to the EU, European access to the Chinese market, and export controls on rare earths.

The EU is deeply concerned about the trade imbalance with China and the negative impact on key European industries. The EU has tasked the European Commission, led by Sefcovic, to engage in dialogue to tackle these frictions. The EU's priorities for the talks include managing Chinese exports to the bloc, gaining access to the Chinese market, and addressing export controls on rare earths.

China recently restricted rare earth exports, which has raised concerns among EU states about the potential repercussions on their supply chains. While Sefcovic aims to maintain genuine engagement during the talks, he also emphasizes the importance of delivering concrete outcomes at the Trade and Investment Council meeting in Beijing.

The EU aims to move from rhetoric to results, with a credible outcome being essential. To prepare for Sefcovic's visit, a commission team will travel to Beijing in the coming weeks. The EU's trade deficit with China reached around €360 billion in 2025, indicating that the EU imported significantly more from China than it exported.

In response to the growing trade imbalance, EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen warned China that the bloc would employ all available tools to rebalance its trade relationship with China.