EU Commissioner to Meet Chinese Commerce Minister on Sept. 29 to Discuss Trade Imbalances

In a move to address escalating trade tensions, a spokesperson for the European Commission announced on the 22nd that EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is scheduled to meet with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels on September 29. The meeting is viewed as an attempt by the European Union to mitigate the widening trade deficit with China.

While specific details of the agenda have not been officially disclosed, the meeting follows directives from EU leaders urging the Commission to initiate negotiations with Beijing regarding trade imbalances and to prepare potential defensive measures to protect European industries. European businesses are currently facing significant competitive pressure from an influx of subsidized Chinese goods, while the EU remains heavily dependent on China for critical materials such as semiconductors and rare earth minerals.

Data indicates that the EU's trade deficit with China reached approximately 360 billion euros in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of expansion, with further growth observed in the first quarter of this year. EU leaders have expressed concerns that U.S. tariff hikes could divert more Chinese exports to the European market, further exacerbating existing imbalances driven by China's subsidy policies. Meanwhile, Beijing has cautioned that efforts by major trading partners to adjust trade imbalances and diversify supply chains could risk disrupting existing logistical frameworks.