EU warns of potential market closure to China if trade issues remain unresolved by mid-October.
EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maros Sefcovic has issued a series of public statements in recent days, indicating that if China fails to deliver 'concrete results' on EU-China trade issues before mid-October, the European Union will consider 'closing its market' to China through import restrictions, quota adjustments, and tariff measures.
According to relevant reports, Sefcovic is expected to hold a video conference with the Chinese side in mid-September, followed by an in-person visit to China in early October. The European Council is scheduled to convene on 15-16 October, at which point China-EU trade relations may emerge as a significant agenda item.
The EU's core areas of concern encompass three dimensions: first, the growth in Chinese exports to Europe across textiles, chemicals, plastics, machinery, batteries, and new energy vehicles; second, improving market access conditions for EU enterprises entering China and expanding the market share of European products and companies; and third, enhancing transparency in Chinese exports of critical supplies such as rare earths and legacy chips to ensure stable supply chains for European industries.
Sefcovic acknowledged that a single visit to China cannot resolve the substantial trade imbalance in its entirety, but stressed that negotiations must begin with concrete action.
Relevant data indicates that the EU's trade deficit with China reached 360.6 billion euros in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 15 percent. In the first half of 2026, the EU's trade deficit with China expanded by a further 9 percent.
On the trade defense front, the EU has imposed anti-subsidy duties ranging from 7.8 percent to 35.3 percent on Chinese battery electric vehicles. From July 2026, duty-free import quotas for steel have been reduced by approximately 47 percent in aggregate, with a 50 percent tariff applied to volumes exceeding the quota. On 10 September, Reuters reported that France, Italy, and potentially Germany are pushing for EU safeguard measures on imports of chemicals and plastics - products potentially including polyethylene terephthalate, epoxy resins, and fiberglass - with prospective measures encompassing quotas and tariffs.
In response to Sefcovic's remarks, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Huang Ling issued a clear statement in recent days. Huang Ling indicated that China has taken note of Commissioner Sefcovic's relevant comments. Resolving each other's concerns through dialogue and consultation represents an important consensus reached by Chinese and European leaders. In recent years, China has consistently worked to implement the spirit of that leadership consensus, strengthening dialogue and communication with the EU on trade and economic matters, and endeavoring to manage friction and differences.
Huang Ling emphasized: 'Consultations at all levels between China and the EU must uphold the positioning of a stable and balanced China-EU key trading partnership, adhere to the principle of addressing each other's concerns on an equal footing, and must not unilaterally set preconditions, attach conditions, or resort to threatening market closure at every turn.' China has reiterated on multiple occasions that the EU should confront its own challenges directly - China is not the source of these problems, but can serve as a partner in helping the EU address them. Protectionism offers no path forward; cooperation and mutual benefit represent the correct course.
Cargo owners and freight forwarding enterprises with relevant interests are advised to monitor closely the progress of China-EU trade consultations and the latest developments in EU trade defense measures, maintaining timely awareness of tariff policy and quota adjustment developments. Prior to shipment, advance inquiries into vessel schedules and freight rates are recommended, enabling the formulation of well-considered cargo transport plans. Enterprises should also build in contingency capacity for potential increases in tariff costs and changes to customs clearance procedures, in order to reduce the impact of uncertainty arising from trade policy adjustments.
