Beijing (Eurotoday) – European Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič met with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing for talks that Šefčovič described as centered on achieving a “level playing field” in trade relations between the EU and China.
According to China’s Commerce Ministry, the meeting constituted a candid and pragmatic exchange. Šefčovič later shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the goal is to ensure the EU-China relationship is based on fair competition and reciprocal market access.
“We must ensure that the EU-China relationship is based on a level playing field, in terms of trade flows as well as investment, with symmetrical markets opening,” Šefčovič said.
This visit marked the Slovak commissioner’s first official trip to Beijing since assuming his role late last year. Senior European and Chinese officials continue to search for common ground amid trade tensions, while broader geopolitical shifts—such as the protectionist stance seen under former U.S. President Donald Trump—pose additional challenges to global trade stability.
What Are the Key Concerns in EU-China Trade?
During his confirmation hearings before the European Parliament’s International Trade and Constitutional Affairs committees last November, Šefčovič labeled China as the EU’s most difficult trading partner. He stressed the need to rebalance aspects of the bilateral trade relationship.
Šefčovič informed Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) that, following the EU’s decision to apply tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, ongoing negotiations are taking place to discuss pricing commitments with Beijing.
“The EU is not pursuing trade wars; rather, we aim to rebalance our relationship with China in sectors where we believe the situation is unfair,” he stated, highlighting concerns about overcapacity, state subsidies, and unequal market access.
What Sectors Face Trade Imbalance Between the EU and China?
While electric vehicles and dairy products remain points of contention, China continues to rank as the EU’s second-largest trading partner, with the EU being China’s largest. The most traded goods between the two economic powers are mechanical appliances and electrical equipment.
Over the past decade, trade between the EU and China has seen steady growth. Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy are among the EU member states most actively engaged in trade with China.
More than half of EU imports from China consist of mechanical and electrical products. Vehicles and aircraft make up less than 6% of imports, followed by organic chemicals at 4.7% and clothing accessories at 4.5%.
Eurotoday is an independent European news platform providing in-depth coverage of international and EU affairs. With a continent-wide perspective, Eurotoday analyzes EU policymaking, tracks developments across member states, and interprets global issues through a European lens.
Leave a Reply