European Commission trade envoy Maroš Šefčovič traveled to Beijing on October 8, 2026, for two days of negotiations with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao to address the trade deficit.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping is seeking to balance support for Russia with economic ties to Europe, where a trilateral summit could spark backlash.

The European Union runs a trade deficit with China of more than $1.1 billion a day, with Chinese exports to the EU rising 16% over the first nine months of 2026.

This month, the European Union and China reached an agreement to cap Chinese hybrid vehicle imports into the EU at 350,000 annually.

Under the draft Franco-German deal, the UK must align with EU trade protection measures, including tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, to qualify for Made in Europe status.

France and Germany reached a provisional deal on October 15, 2026, to soften EU car emissions targets and allow the UK to join the Made in Europe scheme.

The Franco-German agreement restricts the Made in Europe status for cars to the 27 EU member states, while allowing opt-in conditions for Britain and Norway.

European carmakers requested Britain's inclusion in Made in Europe public procurement rules because of deeply integrated cross-border supply chains.

The UK imposes a 10% import duty on Chinese electric vehicles, whereas the European Union has imposed tariffs up to 45% since 2024.

The European Union's trade deficit with China exceeds $1 billion a day, heightening economic anxiety over potential job losses in European industrial sectors.

In October 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce urged France and Germany to refrain from encouraging the European Union to resort to protectionist measures.

Trade protectionism is an effective way to build European industrial competitiveness

Decoupling the European economy from China is impossible

The European Parliament voted 454 to 86 on October 7, 2026, on a resolution calling for economic reciprocity and a proportionate European Union response if China does not open its markets.

The European Union aims to emulate Japan, which reduced its rare earths dependency on China from 90% to 60% after Beijing restricted exports of approximately 20 materials to Japan in 2011.

Far-right and left-wing lawmakers from countries including Ireland and Bulgaria formed a coalition to vote against the European Parliament's October 7, 2026, resolution calling for tougher trade policies against China.

France and Germany proposed making it easier for the European Commission to deploy its Anti-Coercion Instrument to block or restrict trade and investment from countries putting undue pressure on European Union members.

The European Union set an October 2026 deadline for reaching an agreement with China on ways to reduce China's trade surplus with the bloc

China and the European Union agreed to continue discussions on price undertakings and review procedures related to the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles dating to 2024

China committed to continuing the supply of vital items to the European Union by facilitating export licenses for rare earths and permanent magnets

European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic sought to reduce the European Union's trade deficit with China, which amounts to over €1 billion per day