EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic anticipates significant advancements in discussions with China by October after meeting with Minister Wang Wentao.
EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said he expects tangible progress from talks with China by October, following a meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels, reports Reuters.
Mr. Sefcovic described the discussions as 'intensive, focused, and constructive' and noted that delegations would continue talks into the evening. He confirmed that he had accepted an invitation to travel to Beijing in October, where he hoped to present concrete outcomes.
The commissioner stressed the need to address the widening trade gap, noting that Chinese exports to Europe continue to rise while the EU's market share in China shrinks. He stated that this trend is unsustainable and that 'the status quo is not an option.'
Both sides agreed to establish groups to examine trade balance, export controls, intellectual property, and World Trade Organization reform. Mr. Sefcovic welcomed assurances from Beijing that rare earth export controls would not disrupt EU supply chains.
China's commerce ministry indicated that Mr. Wang raised concerns over the EU's draft Cybersecurity Law and Industrial Accelerator Act, urging Brussels not to view China as the source of its problems. EU leaders have pressed the commission to deliver results after the bloc's trade surplus with China rose 15 percent in 2025 to EUR 360.6 billion and expanded another 10 percent in the first four months of this year.
