China and EU Trade Officials Meet to Stabilize Ties

Chinese officials and a delegation from the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade met in Beijing on October 28, 2026, to address escalating trade tensions. Wang Wentao, China's Commerce Minister, warned that the European Union's increasing use of trade restrictions is disrupting bilateral economic cooperation and destabilizing cross-border supply chains. He urged the EU to adhere to World Trade Organization rules and increase imports from the bloc to achieve more balanced trade.

During the visit, Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, also met with the delegation led by Bernd Lange. Li characterized the trade relationship as one of complementarity and mutual benefit, expressing a willingness to collaborate with the European Parliament to stabilize ties. Bernd Lange emphasized the importance of stable economic relations amid global uncertainty and expressed support for continued consultations and WTO reform.

These meetings follow October 8 and 9 consultations that established 16 points of consensus on export controls, intellectual property rights, and hybrid vehicle trade. However, the dialogue occurs against a backdrop of internal EU friction; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on October 16 that the EU would propose further restrictions on Chinese imports, arguing that previous agreements failed to resolve trade imbalances. The two sides have scheduled a video conference for January and a ministerial meeting for March 2027.