European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic held talks in Beijing on Thursday 8 October 2026 with China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, at the start of two days of discussions on the European Union’s trade deficit with China and on Chinese export curbs, according to AFP and Reuters reports carried by Al Jazeera and to Chinese state media.
The Global Times, citing a statement from China’s Ministry of Commerce, reported that Wang met Sefcovic on Thursday. It said the ministry’s statement gave no further detail and that Sefcovic was reportedly in Beijing for the second meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism, following a first meeting in Brussels on 29 June.
What is on the table
Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, said the talks follow months of discussions over an EU trade deficit with China of more than 1 billion euros ($1.12 billion) a day and over Chinese curbs on exports of rare earths and other critical minerals. Sefcovic had said he wanted “tangible results by October” as well as some form of commitment that could be put to EU leaders, the report said. CGTN, a Chinese state broadcaster, said he has remained optimistic about bringing back an outline deal for the European Council, which it said meets next on 15 October.
Al Jazeera reported, citing the Financial Times, that China rejected an EU request for voluntary curbs on Chinese hybrid car exports, and that the Commission now hopes Beijing will accept a unilateral EU cap on hybrid imports instead.
Pressure on both sides
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged the EU on Tuesday to prepare a “credible instrument” that could be activated quickly against countries that harm the bloc economically, according to Al Jazeera. China’s commerce ministry responded that France and Germany “should avoid going down the wrong path in the wrong way, only to ultimately suffer the consequences themselves”. The Global Times reported that the European Parliament adopted a recommendation by 454 votes to 86, with 110 abstentions, calling for a “stronger and principled EU-China policy”, citing Euronews. Al Jazeera also reported that China has vowed a “resolute response” to safeguard its industries if the EU goes ahead with restrictions on Chinese companies or products, according to its commerce ministry.
None of the sources reviewed reported an outcome from the talks at the time of writing.
Why It Matters
The meeting brings together two concerns that rarely move in step: Europe’s wish to correct a trade imbalance and its dependence on supplies that China controls. Each side is signalling it will defend its industries if talks fail, so the next days will show whether the consultation mechanism can deliver something concrete or whether the EU moves towards the tougher trade-defence tools it is discussing.
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