The European Union and China have launched the first EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations (TIC) in Brussels, with both sides agreeing to strengthen ministerial dialogue on trade and investment while working towards a more balanced bilateral relationship.
The meeting was chaired by Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security and Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, and Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.
Key developments:
- Four workstreams were established covering trade and investment balancing, export controls, intellectual property rights (IPR) and WTO reform.
- A joint monitoring mechanism will track trade flows and improve transparency.
- Both sides agreed to continue discussions on market access, tariffs and non-tariff measures.
- Ministers plan to meet again in Autumn 2026 to review progress.
According to Eurostat, the EU recorded a €359.8 billion goods trade deficit with China in 2025, importing €559.4 billion and exporting €199.6 billion. EU officials have described the gap as unsustainable and are seeking greater market access alongside fairer trading conditions.
Following the consultations, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security and Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency Maroš Šefčovič said the EU expects “tangible results” by October 2026, describing the current trade deficit as “not sustainable”. He said the new consultation framework should deliver practical progress on market access, trade imbalances and other longstanding economic concerns.
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