Chinese, EU trade heads to meet as Trump tariff tensions rise
The Wang-Sefcovic meeting will be the third known discussion between the two this year
TOP trade officials from the European Union and China are planning to meet again early next month, another sign that both sides are stepping up engagements as they try to push back against tariff pressure from US President Donald Trump.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic are set to meet on the sidelines of a WTO ministerial meeting in Paris in early June, according to a spokesperson for the EU. The news was earlier reported by Chinese state media Global Times.
The EU spokesperson did not confirm the exact timing of the talks to Bloomberg News. The Chinese Commerce Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Monday (May 26) afternoon.
News of the sitdown comes as President Trump agreed to extend the deadline for the EU to face 50 per cent tariffs until Jul 9, following a phone call with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
That’s the same month European leaders will travel to Beijing for a summit with their Chinese counterparts.
The Wang-Sefcovic meeting will be the third known discussion between the two this year. Sefcovic visited the Chinese capital in late March, when he also met with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng. That was followed by a video call on Apr 8.
The Chinese government has sought to shore up ties globally to resist Trump’s tariff regime, including by offering European groups rare access to senior policymakers and vowing to improve China’s business environment for foreign companies.
Despite the outreach, European trade officials remain sceptical, citing “promise fatigue” and ongoing disputes over issues such as state support for Chinese companies and trade barriers. BLOOMBERG
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