The EU’s trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic arrives in Beijing for two days of talks with China’s trade minister Wang Wentao, with both sides focusing on trade imbalances and market access. Sefcovic says the current EU goods deficit linked to China is “unsustainable” and calls for “rebalancing,” while also seeking to prevent a wider trade conflict.
Several outlets highlight autos as a key issue. The EU points to the rapid growth of Chinese hybrid vehicles in Europe, including claims that Chinese hybrid cars now account for about a quarter of the European market. Brussels says the talks aim to reach a pilot agreement to curb the surge in exports and reduce a deficit reported to be around €1 billion per day. Other coverage frames the agenda around economic security, with the EU pressing for better access to China’s market while China’s position is not detailed in the reports provided.
