EU and China Launch New Trade Dialogue in Brussels

European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao convened the first meeting of the EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations (TIC) in the Belgian capital on 29 June 2026, establishing a new framework for bilateral economic dialogue.

Designed to strengthen ministerial-level engagement on trade and investment policies, the TIC aims to stabilise and rebalance the bilateral relationship between the two key trading partners. The discussions identified four priority workstreams for technical cooperation: trade and investment balancing, export controls, intellectual property rights, and WTO reform.

Senior officials have been tasked with advancing work across these areas, while ministers are expected to meet again in the autumn of this year.

Among the concrete outcomes, both parties agreed to set up a joint monitoring mechanism to share trade data, track trade flows, and support technical exchanges with the goal of improving transparency, building mutual trust, and managing trade tensions. Market access initiatives, including potential tariff and non-tariff measures, were also discussed, with both sides exchanging lists of outstanding concerns and committing to further consultations within the trade and investment balancing workstream.

On export controls, the two sides acknowledged progress achieved through the EU-China Export Control Dialogue on rare earth elements and other critical materials, and expressed their intention to deepen exchanges on regulatory frameworks and licensing policies. They also recognised the importance of facilitating trade to preserve the stability of global industrial supply chains.

In the multilateral sphere, the EU and China underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation within the WTO, advancing meaningful reform, and reinforcing the organisation's authority and effectiveness. Both sides agreed to enhance communication and collaboration in the WTO going forward.

On intellectual property, the two sides welcomed the constructive exchanges within the EU-China Intellectual Property Working Group and agreed to address systemic issues to improve the efficiency, fairness, and transparency of IP protection and enforcement.

The meeting signals a shared commitment by Brussels and Beijing to address trade challenges through dialogue and to pursue practical solutions for a more balanced and stable economic partnership.