China has warned the European Union against making unilateral demands or using threats of market restrictions as leverage in ongoing trade negotiations, calling instead for disputes between the two major trading partners to be addressed through dialogue on an equal footing.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday that negotiations between Beijing and Brussels should take into account the concerns of both sides, responding to recent remarks by EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic about the possible use of trade defence instruments if talks with China fail to produce results.
Ministry spokesperson Huang Ling said China had taken note of Sefcovic’s remarks, adding that Chinese and EU leaders had already reached an important consensus on resolving economic and trade concerns through dialogue and consultation.
Huang said Beijing had sought to implement that understanding in recent years by strengthening economic and trade engagement with the EU while attempting to manage differences and trade frictions.
According to the ministry, communication between both sides has continued at various levels since the first meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism on June 29, with officials exploring potential solutions to their respective economic and trade concerns.
Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji also held talks from Monday to Wednesday with Denis Redonnet, deputy director-general of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, who was visiting China.
Huang described the discussions as in-depth, candid and constructive, with the two sides also overseeing several rounds of technical consultations between their respective teams.
China said the negotiations should recognise Beijing and Brussels as important trading partners and seek to address concerns on an equal basis.
“Neither side should make unilateral demands nor dictate terms,” Huang said, adding that threats to close markets should not be used as a bargaining tool.
The ministry also rejected suggestions that China was responsible for the economic challenges confronting the EU, arguing instead that Beijing could be a partner in addressing them.
“Protectionism offers no way out, while win-win cooperation is the right way forward,” Huang said.
Beijing said it was prepared to strengthen regular and institutionalised economic and trade communication with the EU, manage differences and expand practical cooperation.
Such engagement, it said, could help move bilateral trade towards greater balance while supporting continued growth.
China also urged the EU to uphold free trade and work with Beijing to safeguard the rules-based multilateral trading system centred on the World Trade Organization, while cautioning Brussels against moving further towards protectionist measures.
The remarks signal continued tensions in China-EU economic relations even as officials on both sides maintain negotiations aimed at managing their trade disputes.
