EU trade chief travels to Beijing for high stakes import talks

European Union Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is travelling to Beijing on Wednesday for two days of trade talks with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, Euronews reported. The meeting aims to rebalance trade relations that Brussels views as heavily skewed in China's favour. As FTMQ News reported earlier, EU trade officials are seeking a deal to curb cheap imports and address Beijing's growing trade surplus. [1][8]

According to Euronews, the European Union's trade deficit with China has reached a record one billion euros a day, while FTMQ News previously reported the surplus at one billion pounds a day. The European Commission opened negotiations in June to address trade-distorting exports, setting an October deadline for Beijing to deliver tangible progress. Gript.ie reported that Brussels is seeking to reduce cheap Chinese exports, which have been characterised as state-subsidised dumping. [1][2][8]

EU member states have increased their demands for protection against Chinese imports as a trade war looms, Euronews and FTMQ News both report. Brussels is focusing on access to the European Union market and is seeking product-specific agreements during the negotiations. [1][8]