Media: The EU Lacks Political Will to Address Trade Issues with China

¬ Ministry of Commerce of China: Invited EU Trade Commissioner to Visit China in Autumn

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According to sources cited by Bloomberg, due to a lack of political will, EU member states have been unable to reach consensus on resolving trade issues with China, with EU leaders divided, partly due to concerns over Beijing's potential countermeasures.

As reported by Bloomberg sources, despite European industries facing "existential threats," EU leaders failed to agree on further actions during their June meeting in Brussels. Some EU leaders reportedly want the European Commission to be immediately authorized to develop and implement new tools to address China, while others adopt a wait-and-see approach, seeking to resolve differences through dialogue. Bloomberg noted that other leaders warned that "the battle is already lost," emphasizing that given the EU's deep reliance on China in sensitive sectors, it should focus swiftly on minimizing losses.

The report stated: "The EU’s latest attempt to adjust its economic and trade relationship with China has stalled, as some member states and officials involved in planning doubt whether the EU has the willingness to take decisive action after diplomatic setbacks. Although the EU has launched another tough stance toward China, it lacks the political will to implement major changes or engage in conflict with China."

The report added that EU member states share a consensus on the serious consequences brought by China's dominant economic position. However, sources said EU leaders still cannot agree on concrete measures to address trade deficits or how to make domestic industries more competitive than Chinese ones.

Moreover, an anonymous official said there are not enough EU countries willing to tolerate inevitable Chinese countermeasures—especially considering past experiences negotiating with the United States, where the EU ultimately agreed to a "unilateral free trade agreement," accepting U.S. tariffs on its goods while eliminating tariffs on American products.

At the end of May, the European Commission released a report stating that the EU-China relationship in trade and investment is "unsustainable." The Commission pointed out that the EU's trade deficit with China increases by approximately 1 billion euros daily.

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On July 2, He Yadong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce of China, said at a regular press briefing that China has invited European Commission Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Sergei Cekovitch, to visit China this autumn to hold the second session of the China-EU Trade and Investment Dialogue Mechanism.

According to information from the official website of China’s Ministry of Commerce, He Yadong explained: "During the first meeting, both sides focused on advancing trade balance upward rather than downward through three key areas: First, emerging fields—both sides will work to expand cooperation in areas such as AI and green transition; second, potential fields—both sides will explore deeper cooperation potential in services trade and related areas; third, problematic fields—both sides will promote gradual resolution of mutual concerns through market access consultations. Both sides reached a consensus on a new positioning for China-EU economic and trade relations: stable, balanced key trade partners between China and Europe. This helps improve expectations among the vast majority of Chinese and European enterprises and injects greater certainty and positive energy into the development of China-EU relations and global economic growth."

Notably, U.S. media published articles at the end of May claiming that Europe is increasingly approaching a trade war with China as cheap Chinese goods flood the continent and pose a so-called 'threat to survival' for local industries. In response, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a solemn statement on May 21, declaring that if the EU persists in adopting discriminatory restrictions against Chinese enterprises or products, China will resolutely retaliate.

Source: sputniknews

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869589945375963/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author