EU Trade Chief to Host China’s Commerce Minister in Brussels on June 29
Key Details of the Upcoming EU-China Trade Meeting
Background of the Meeting
BRUSSELS, June 22 (Reuters) - Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao will visit Brussels on June 29 for a meeting with European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, a European Commission spokesperson said on Monday.
EU's Strategic Trade Objectives
Mandate from EU Leaders
• Last week, European Union leaders told the European Commission, which oversees the bloc's trade policy, to produce results from dialogue with the EU's main trading partners, including China, and to ensure the bloc has all the trade instruments it needs to defend its interests.
Proposed Legislation for Supply Diversification
• The Commission plans to propose a law requiring EU companies to diversify their sources of key supplies.
Current Trade Dynamics Between EU and China
Trade Surplus Figures
• China's goods trade surplus with the EU hit €360.6 billion in 2025, a 15% increase on 2024, and has expanded by 10% in the first four months of this year as Chinese firms have sold more to the EU and imported less.
Critical Minerals and Export Restrictions
Impact of Beijing's Policies
• Beijing has also exploited its dominance in processing of critical minerals by placing export restrictions on rare earths in April 2025, a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs that has also hit EU companies.
(Reporting by Philip BlenkinsopEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
