EU urges China to agree on import limits as trade talks near deadline
The European Commission is pressing Beijing to accept quotas on Chinese exports, warning of possible trade measures if no progress is made by next month.
Intensive talks between the European Commission and China, started last June, are now in their closing stage as the October deadline approaches. The Commission wants China to consent to import quotas on certain goods, aiming to correct a trade imbalance that has cost the EU 250,000 industrial jobs last year. Beijing has rejected voluntary export restrictions, especially for electric vehicles, and remains reluctant to formalize quota arrangements.
To preserve the negotiation momentum, the Commission has delayed applying trade defence tools for the chemical industry, a sector heavily threatened by Chinese competition. Director General Ditte Juul Jørgensen recently visited China for heated talks, and EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will meet Chinese officials on 8-9 October before a key EU summit. Industry and Trade Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné described the rebalancing effort as existential for Europe.
Why it matters
The outcome will shape EU-China trade balance and affect millions of jobs in Europe.
How this story developed
- Sep 17 Canada welcomes EU invitation to become bloc’s first associate member
- Sep 17 President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs in response to the EU‑Canada partnership proposal.
- Sep 19 EU officials noted that the associate‑member concept has no existing definition in EU law and would need unanimous approval of all member states.
- Sep 26 The proposal was raised publicly at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
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