EU trade chief and Chinese counterpart wrap up talks on trade imbalances in Beijing
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the talks were the culmination of three months of work, but both sides left key issues unresolved.
By Felo News Desk · Published
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and his Chinese counterpart concluded two days of talks in Beijing on Friday, seeking ways to ease mounting trade tensions between the European Union and China, according to the Associated Press and The Independent.
What happened
The talks, held on Thursday and Friday, brought together the EU trade envoy and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. The meetings were described as the final stage of a three‑month intensive effort by the EU, with Sefcovic setting an October deadline for tangible outcomes. The agenda included the EU’s daily €1 billion trade deficit with China, restrictions on Chinese hybrid‑car imports, and Chinese demands that the EU drop blocks on advanced chip‑making equipment.
What the reports add
The Associated Press noted that Sefcovic travelled to Beijing emphasizing the need for “tangible outcomes” in rebalancing trade, but did not specify the exact points of contention. The Independent added that China’s trade surplus with the EU reached €360 billion ($410 billion) last year and that China is urging the EU to stop blocking imports of advanced computer‑chip machines, a move it says was taken at Washington’s request. The Independent also reported that the Chinese Commerce Ministry warned the EU against protectionist measures, while the AP article left the EU’s response to that warning unclear.
What was said
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told The Independent that the talks were the culmination of three months of intensive work and that he had set an October deadline for meaningful results on trade rebalancing. He also said it was crucial that the negotiations deliver “tangible outcomes.” The Chinese side, through a statement from the Commerce Ministry cited by The Independent, urged the EU to avoid protectionist steps that could backfire.
How it came about
Earlier this week, the Chinese Commerce Ministry issued a statement urging the EU to avoid protectionist measures, echoing concerns raised in Felo’s coverage of the EU envoy’s arrival in Beijing on 8 October (EU trade envoy Maroš Šefčovič heads to Beijing) and the subsequent talks on the €1 billion daily deficit (EU trade chief arrives in Beijing for talks). Those articles detailed the EU’s plan to meet Wang Wentao, the EU Parliament’s resolution demanding economic reciprocity, and proposals to use the EU’s Anti‑Coercion Instrument. The current talks build on those prior diplomatic moves and on the EU’s effort to negotiate a pilot agreement on hybrid‑car imports, as reported on 7 October (EU trade chief leads talks in China to curb cheap hybrid car imports).
Key facts
- EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met in Beijing for two days of talks on trade imbalances. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- China's trade surplus with the EU was €360 billion ($410 billion) last year. (independent.co.uk)
- The EU aims to address a daily €1 billion trade deficit with China. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- China is urging the EU to stop blocking imports of advanced chip‑making machines. (independent.co.uk)
- Sefcovic said the talks were the culmination of three months of intensive work and set an October deadline for results. (independent.co.uk)
Timeline
- 2026-10-07 — EU trade chief leads talks in China to curb cheap hybrid car imports
- 2026-10-08 — EU trade envoy Maroš Šefčovič heads to Beijing to tackle €1 bn‑daily deficit
- 2026-10-08 — EU trade chief arrives in Beijing for talks on deficit and rare‑earth curbs
