Senior European Union trade officials arrived in Beijing on Thursday for two days of high-level discussions aimed at addressing the growing trade imbalance between the EU and China. The talks, led by Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission’s trade chief, mark the latest attempt by Brussels to coax Beijing into moderating its expanding export surplus with the 27-member bloc.
This visit comes three months after the previous meeting in Brussels, where EU officials set an October deadline for tangible progress in rebalancing trade relations. However, working-level negotiations since then have stalled, with China’s trade surplus with the EU continuing to widen. Despite the challenges, Brussels hopes that China’s Ministry of Commerce will agree to a limited “proof-of-concept” arrangement to curb exports in at least one sector, a step that could pave the way for broader commitments.
Experts suggest that even a small breakthrough would allow both sides to present the Trade and Investment Consultations as a constructive start. Andrew Small, director of the Asia programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted that the outcome will reveal whether China is prepared to make serious offers that could alter the fundamental trade dynamics.
China’s sustained access to European markets remains a priority, especially as its economy grows more export-dependent. Nonetheless, Brussels is preparing to adopt stronger measures independently if progress remains insufficient. The EU views China’s state-driven economic model and heavily subsidized industries as a threat to European manufacturing competitiveness, particularly in key sectors like automotive and machinery.
The surge of inexpensive Chinese imports has contributed to factory closures and job losses across Europe’s industrial regions, with Germany notably affected. German officials argue that unfair factors such as undisclosed state subsidies and currency undervaluation give Chinese firms an undue advantage. This concern has forged an unusual policy alliance between Germany and France, historically divergent on China trade issues, pushing the EU toward a more assertive stance.
On Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to establish a new trade enforcement mechanism. The proposal would enable the EU to swiftly exclude China from its internal market through a qualified majority vote in response to systemic trade distortions—a move that signals a significant shift from Germany’s previous cautious approach.
European Parliament trade lawmaker Bernd Lange welcomed the development, stating that the European Council has “finally woken up” to the need for faster, more effective trade defense tools to counter what Brussels terms “unfair market distortions.”
In addition to trade defense enhancements, the EU is developing a diversification instrument to reduce dependency on single suppliers, alongside a solidarity fund to support companies affected by retaliatory actions. These initiatives are expected to be formally outlined at an EU summit slated for early December.
Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Commerce urged EU members not to resort to protectionist measures or politicize trade issues, warning that such actions could backfire and harm all parties involved.
Leaders from the 27 member states will convene in Brussels next week to review the outcomes of the Beijing discussions and decide on the EU’s next steps in its increasingly firm approach to trade relations with China.