Costa Alerts China to Trade Imbalances

BRUSSELS – António Costa, the President of the European Council, emphasized the need for President Xi Jinping of China to address the “commercial and economic imbalances” that exist between Beijing and the European Union (EU).
During a recent phone call, both leaders expressed their belief that “cooperation is preferable to competition,” according to sources from the European Council.
Costa and Xi also highlighted the importance of reaching a resolution over the ongoing dispute regarding electric vehicles, seeking solutions that would offer “mutual benefits.”
Following an investigation by the European Commission, which found that Chinese government support was allowing electric vehicles from China to be sold at artificially low prices, the EU has decided to impose additional tariffs on these imports, labeling the situation as anti-competitive.
The European Council president underscored the necessity of collaborative efforts to tackle global issues such as climate change.
The two leaders agreed that enhanced cooperation between China and the 27 EU member states could serve as a positive indicator for global peace.
However, tensions have arisen concerning Ukraine, which has been under Russian invasion since February 2022. During their conversation, Costa warned against any nation aiding Russia in the conflict or attempting to circumvent EU sanctions.
In response, Xi acknowledged Russia as a traditional ally of China, yet emphasized the importance of striving for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
This year also marks plans for an EU-China summit, celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Brussels and Beijing, although a specific date for the event has not been determined.
The last summit took place in December 2023 in Beijing and was the first in-person meeting between the two sides since 2019, owing to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At that meeting, former European Council President Charles Michel stated that both the EU and China had committed to upholding international law and collaborating to tackle global challenges alongside Xi Jinping. (01/14/25)