EU-China trade talks set with October deadline

The European Union and China have launched a formal trade consultation mechanism, setting an October deadline to make measurable progress on a commercial relationship strained by a record trade deficit and disputes over market access. The new platform, established during a day of talks in Brussels on Monday, June 29, aims to stabilize the economic relationship through structured dialogue and avert an escalatory trade conflict.

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao authorized officials to begin work across four key areas: rebalancing trade and investment flows, managing export controls on critical raw materials like rare earths, protecting intellectual property rights, and advancing World Trade Organization reform. Both sides issued a joint statement, their first since 2019, committing to manage tensions through consultation.

The most pressing issue for the EU is a goods trade deficit that reached approximately 360 billion euros in 2025, a figure that has continued to grow this year. Commissioner Šefčovič described the trend as unsustainable, stating that the status quo is not an option. As an immediate step, the two sides agreed to...