EU trade chief wants to emulate US intensity in talks with China

Key Points:

• EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič plans to intensify trade negotiations with China to address the EU’s growing trade deficit, drawing inspiration from the extensive U.S.-China talks preceding President Trump's visit to China.
• The EU's goods trade deficit with China increased to €360 billion last year and has expanded sharply in early 2026, prompting EU leaders to discuss measures against China's industrial overcapacity and subsidized exports at upcoming meetings.
• While some EU countries, led by France, advocate for tougher trade defense measures against China, others like Germany favor a more cautious approach, reflecting divisions within the bloc.
• Beijing has already threatened retaliation against any new EU trade measures targeting China, leading Šefčovič to emphasize a practical, incremental, and non-confrontational approach in upcoming talks with Chinese officials.
• Šefčovič aims to use outcomes from the June European Council meeting to guide negotiations with China, highlighting a growing consensus within the EU on the need to address the trade imbalance affecting all member states.