EU-China truce under strain as both sides brace for potential trade war
Weeks after the European Union and China struck a deal aimed at averting a looming trade war, the two sides remain at loggerheads over what is wrong with their relationship, how to fix it and who is to blame. At an event in Brussels this week, threats were exchanged and differences rose to the surface. With the ink barely dry on their fragile trade peace, the dynamic made clear that both are…
As the EU and China attempt to mend their strained relationship following a recent trade deal, both sides remain wary of potential conflict. At an event in Brussels, Chinese ambassador Cai Run threatened retaliation against any EU measures seen as restrictive or discriminatory, while EU official Stefano Grassi warned of a unidirectional, unsustainable imbalance in their trading relationship.
EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic plans to unveil a package of tools on December 9 to protect businesses in case of retaliation, while China's top trade expert Cui Fan warned of potential anti-discrimination and security investigations. Despite the EU's desire to fix the relationship, Chinese officials remain skeptical, with some suggesting the deal is not a blueprint for future negotiations.
MEPs expressed concerns over Beijing's rejection of their figures on economic imbalances, while Chinese speakers downplayed the issue, attributing the trade deficit to external factors like US tariffs.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
