EU trade chief heads to Beijing under pressure to deliver on Chinese imports
Brussels has yet to find a way to curb Chinese imports, while EU leaders demand results from Beijing talks as a trade war looms.
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is set to visit Beijing for two days of negotiations aimed at rectifying the trade imbalance that favors China. As the EU's trade deficit with China reaches a record €1 billion per day, a critical October deadline looms for progress. The Commission initiated talks in June to tackle what officials characterize as trade-distorting Chinese exports, with Beijing given until October to deliver "tangible" results.
Central to the discussions is access to the EU market, where Brussels seeks product-specific quotas on Chinese imports, a proposal China has already dismissed with its rejection of voluntary export restrictions on electric vehicles. With European industries facing intense pressure from a surge of low-cost Chinese imports, EU leaders anticipate Šefčovič's return with concrete outcomes prior to their summit in Brussels. Šefčovič emphasized the need for EU27 to outline a solution concept during these negotiations, warning that failure to achieve tangible results could incite a strong political push for harsher measures.
Notably, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have advocated for a new mechanism that would enable the Commission to swiftly address economic threats, potentially leading to immediate market access cuts. Tensions have intensified as China has threatened retaliation against EU proposals to limit market access.
In response to the ongoing talks, the Commission initiated investigations into Chinese products suspected of engaging in unfair trade practices and imposed anti-dumping duties on certain Chinese firms. EU member states have also paused chemical sector investigations to avoid safeguards such as quotas and tariffs, which could shield an industry grappling with Chinese competition.
Concurrently, China initiated its own investigation into EU chemicals manufacturers on Saturday, interpreted by Euronews as a retaliatory measure for EU probes into Chinese chemical producers.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
