A Chinese-European meeting in Brussels to discuss the trade surplus issue economy

A European Commission spokesman said that Chinese Trade Minister Wang Wentao will visit Brussels on June 29 to hold talks with European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, at a time when concern is mounting within the European Union about the widening of the trade deficit with China to about one billion euros per day.

The visit comes after European Union leaders called on the European Commission to achieve tangible results from the trade dialogue with major partners, most notably China, while ensuring that the bloc has the necessary tools to defend its economic interests.

The data showed that China’s surplus in goods trade with the European Union rose to 360.6 billion euros (about 413.4 billion dollars) during the year 2025, an increase of 15% compared to 2024, while the European deficit expanded by about an additional 10% during the first four months of 2026.

This reflects the rise in Chinese exports to European markets versus the decline in Chinese imports from EU countries, which has increased pressure on European industrial sectors.

European concerns worsened after China imposed restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals in April 2025, in response to US tariffs, which affected European companies that depend on China to process and supply vital minerals used in advanced industries.

In this context, the European Commission intends to introduce a draft law requiring European companies to diversify sources of supply for basic materials and reduce dependence on a single supplier.

Different positions

Although member states agree on the need to address the trade imbalance between Europe and China, there are still differences regarding the nature of the measures required.

While France calls for a tougher stance towards Beijing, Germany and Spain prefer to continue dialogue and avoid trade escalation.

Last month, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Lithuania proposed measures to reduce dependence on single foreign suppliers, including imposing additional duties or import quotas, before Spain withdrew its support for the proposal.

The European Union is currently conducting 21 investigations into dumping and government subsidy issues, 18 of which focus on Chinese companies and producers.

European duties imposed on Chinese electric cars since 2024 are still casting a shadow over trade relations between the two sides, after Beijing responded with measures targeting European exports of dairy and alcoholic beverages.

The European Union is scheduled to conduct a comprehensive review of its trade defense tools during the third quarter of 2026, amid a growing trend to reduce dependence on China and enhance the security of European supply chains.