On October 8, European Commission Vice-President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis stated: “In Beijing, I met with my counterpart, Minister Wang Wen-tao. Building on intensive dialogue over the past three months, we are working to restore balance in EU-China trade. It is crucial that the first phase of negotiations under the EU-China Trade and Investment Dialogue mechanism has yielded tangible results.”
Commentary: Dombrovskis’s visit to China underscores the core objective—addressing the persistent and widening trade deficit faced by the European Union in its exchanges with China. Both sides have clear incentives to avoid a full-scale trade conflict. European businesses recognize the risks of escalation, including potential restrictions on critical supplies such as rare earth elements and rising domestic prices. Meanwhile, China continues to value the European market as a significant economic partner. However, structural disparities in industrial composition and global value chains between the two regions make comprehensive resolution unattainable through a single round of talks. This meeting is likely to result in limited mutual concessions, primarily aimed at managing differences and preventing further escalation of trade tensions. The outcome will reflect a pragmatic compromise reached amid ongoing strategic competition.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878557132123274/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.