EU trade chief heads to Beijing as deadline for trade progress nears
Brussels is seeking quotas for specific Chinese imports, with the EU’s trade deficit with China at a record €1 billion a day.
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is travelling to Beijing on 7 October 2026 for talks with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. The two-day visit comes as an October deadline approaches for progress on trade imbalances that the European Commission says favour China.
Negotiations began in June over Chinese exports that EU officials describe as distorting trade. The Commission is seeking quotas covering specific products entering the EU, but Beijing has not agreed to limit exports. China recently turned down a proposal for voluntary restrictions on electric vehicle exports.
EU leaders expect concrete results before their forthcoming Brussels summit. Šefčovič warned in September that insufficient progress in October would generate political pressure among leaders for tougher action.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have called for a new instrument enabling the Commission to respond rapidly to economic threats. Their proposed measures could include immediately blocking access to the EU’s internal market where necessary.
Beijing has threatened retaliation against EU proposals to limit market access. Since negotiations started, the Commission has opened investigations into alleged unfair trade practices involving Chinese products and applied anti-dumping duties to Chinese firms. China has also opened an investigation into EU chemicals.
