Heated Exchange at Beijing EU-China Forum; Both Sides Accuse Each Other of Protectionism and Bullying
At a sub-forum of the 2026 EU-China Forum in Beijing, diplomats, officials, and experts from both sides engaged in a heated dispute over trade issues. Jens Eskelund, President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, highlighted a severe trade imbalance, metaphorically describing a ship full of containers heading to Europe but returning almost empty. He refuted claims of European protectionism, pointing to China as the protectionist country. EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo mentioned that the EU's 'Industrial Acceleration Act' was under attack by the Chinese side. This incident reflects the rapid deterioration of EU-China relations and signals a potential for larger-scale trade conflicts, especially as the EU seeks a tougher trade stance on China.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 17:24
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(CNA, Taipei, 18th) Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported that at the 2026 EU-China Forum held in Beijing on the 12th, a heated argument broke out during one of the discussions, with EU and Chinese diplomats, officials, and experts accusing each other over trade issues. China was accused of ignoring trade imbalances, while the EU was accused of bullying China. The incident reflects tense EU-China relations that could escalate into an economic conflict.
The South China Morning Post reported on the 17th that the scene of mutual accusations between the EU and China occurred at a sub-forum titled "EU-China Trade Relations: A Sinking Ship or in the Same Boat?"
Jens Eskelund, President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, stated, "It is neither a sinking ship nor a partnership—it is a 400-meter-long giant container ship, carrying 24,000 containers to Europe and returning almost empty."
In response, Jian Junbo, a researcher at the Center for China-EU Relations at Fudan University, said, "It is regrettable that the EU has adopted a decoupling policy towards China," and that both sides should "work together to combat protectionism."
Eskelund immediately retorted, stating that 42% of the containers entering Europe come from China, and the volume of containers shipped from China to the EU increased by 17% last year. "We need to shatter the myth of European protectionism once and for all."
Eskelund added, "Europe is exceptionally open... If you came from Mars and were asked to see whether it is China or Europe that is practicing protectionism, it would only take you a moment to determine that China is the protectionist country."
EU Ambassador to China, Jorge Toledo, stated that the EU is under a full-scale attack from Chinese media and government because of the "Industrial Acceleration Act." This act aims to promote European manufacturing, especially in the automotive and steel industries, and reduce external dependence.
However, an attendee, suspected to be from the Chinese side, accused Toledo's statement on the spot of being a "vivid demonstration of bullying."
But Spanish economist Alicia Garcia Herrero immediately refuted, "This is a conference hosted by the EU—you cannot talk about bullying to the EU Ambassador."
The report indicated that the situation described above is a far cry from the narrative of a shift towards China represented by the successive visits of some European leaders to China earlier this year. Instead, bilateral relations have entered a new, unstable phase. This EU-China confrontation shows how quickly bilateral relations have deteriorated.
The report stated that Europe is accelerating its industrial plans, but China continues to make retaliatory threats, and this incident may foreshadow a larger-scale trade conflict. If the "Industrial Acceleration Act" is passed and implemented, it will impose strict conditions on Chinese companies investing in Europe's high-tech sector, forcing them to establish joint ventures with local companies, hire local employees, and transfer technology to local partners.
Furthermore, updated cybersecurity regulations will squeeze Chinese companies' access to markets ranging from telecommunications, semiconductors, cloud computing, and connected cars. The European Commission hopes to secure the support of EU member states for a tougher approach to trade with China before the summer recess. The EU's next round of investigations will be launched in the chemical sector in July. (Editor: Chen Kai-yu / Chiu Kuo-chiang) 1150518
The South China Morning Post reported on the 17th that the scene of mutual accusations between the EU and China occurred at a sub-forum titled "EU-China Trade Relations: A Sinking Ship or in the Same Boat?"
Jens Eskelund, President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, stated, "It is neither a sinking ship nor a partnership—it is a 400-meter-long giant container ship, carrying 24,000 containers to Europe and returning almost empty."
In response, Jian Junbo, a researcher at the Center for China-EU Relations at Fudan University, said, "It is regrettable that the EU has adopted a decoupling policy towards China," and that both sides should "work together to combat protectionism."
Eskelund immediately retorted, stating that 42% of the containers entering Europe come from China, and the volume of containers shipped from China to the EU increased by 17% last year. "We need to shatter the myth of European protectionism once and for all."
Eskelund added, "Europe is exceptionally open... If you came from Mars and were asked to see whether it is China or Europe that is practicing protectionism, it would only take you a moment to determine that China is the protectionist country."
EU Ambassador to China, Jorge Toledo, stated that the EU is under a full-scale attack from Chinese media and government because of the "Industrial Acceleration Act." This act aims to promote European manufacturing, especially in the automotive and steel industries, and reduce external dependence.
However, an attendee, suspected to be from the Chinese side, accused Toledo's statement on the spot of being a "vivid demonstration of bullying."
But Spanish economist Alicia Garcia Herrero immediately refuted, "This is a conference hosted by the EU—you cannot talk about bullying to the EU Ambassador."
The report indicated that the situation described above is a far cry from the narrative of a shift towards China represented by the successive visits of some European leaders to China earlier this year. Instead, bilateral relations have entered a new, unstable phase. This EU-China confrontation shows how quickly bilateral relations have deteriorated.
The report stated that Europe is accelerating its industrial plans, but China continues to make retaliatory threats, and this incident may foreshadow a larger-scale trade conflict. If the "Industrial Acceleration Act" is passed and implemented, it will impose strict conditions on Chinese companies investing in Europe's high-tech sector, forcing them to establish joint ventures with local companies, hire local employees, and transfer technology to local partners.
Furthermore, updated cybersecurity regulations will squeeze Chinese companies' access to markets ranging from telecommunications, semiconductors, cloud computing, and connected cars. The European Commission hopes to secure the support of EU member states for a tougher approach to trade with China before the summer recess. The EU's next round of investigations will be launched in the chemical sector in July. (Editor: Chen Kai-yu / Chiu Kuo-chiang) 1150518