Von der Leyen: China-EU Trade Talks Must Yield Substantive Results

(CNA Taipei, July 4) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently issued a warning to China, stating that the upcoming trade talks between the two sides must yield substantive results. She reiterated that the EU is prepared to take action to address the serious trade imbalances with Beijing.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on the 2nd that China and the EU will hold the second ministerial meeting of the trade and investment dialogue mechanism this autumn. China has formally invited EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to visit China at that time.

According to reports from Agence France-Presse and other foreign media, von der Leyen told reporters in Cork, Ireland, on the 3rd, "The EU-China dialogue must also yield results."

She added that the EU's stance in negotiations must be very clear, raising issues including "the influx of subsidized Chinese goods with overcapacity into our markets and the insufficient market access for our companies in China."

Von der Leyen also stated, "We do not want to see unfair competition caused by subsidies in our market again."

It is reported that between 2005 and 2024, Chinese companies received 3 to 8 times more government subsidies than companies in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Von der Leyen warned that if no changes are seen, the EU is prepared to take action. "We are basically prepared for all situations, all tools are on the table, and we are exploring other necessary possibilities."

EU leaders last month asked the European Commission to continue negotiations with China while also preparing to defend the EU's industrial interests.

Reports indicate that the EU's trade deficit with China reached approximately 360 billion euros last year.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong stated at a regular press conference on the 2nd that the China-EU trade and investment dialogue mechanism is a newly established regular exchange mechanism between China and the EU in the economic and trade field, and the two sides have agreed to hold ministerial meetings once or twice a year.

Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and Sefcovic co-chaired the first meeting of the China-EU trade and investment dialogue mechanism on June 29th and issued a joint statement afterward. The two sides officially established the China-EU trade and investment dialogue mechanism, with 4 working groups set up under it. (Editor: Zhou Huiying / Chen Chenggong) 1150704

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