EU, China trade talks set amid U.S. tariff pressure

May 27, 2025 (MLN): European Union and China are set to hold high-level trade talks early next month, signaling deepening engagement as both sides seek to counter mounting tariff pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic are expected to hold talks on the sidelines of a WTO ministerial meeting in Paris in early June, according to an EU spokesperson.

The development was first reported by Chinese state media Global Times.

The EU spokesperson did not confirm the exact timing to Bloomberg News, while China’s Commerce Ministry has yet to respond to a request for comment as of late Monday, May 26.

This planned sit-down follows news that President Trump has extended the deadline for imposing 50% tariffs on the EU until July 9, after a phone call with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The Wang-Sefcovic meeting will mark the third known interaction between the two this year, as Bloomberg reported.

Sefcovic visited Beijing in late March, where he met with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, followed by a video call on April 8.

Meanwhile, European leaders are scheduled to travel to Beijing in July for a summit with Chinese counterparts.

China has intensified its outreach by offering rare access to senior policymakers and pledging to improve the business environment for foreign companies, in a bid to withstand the growing trade pressure from the U.S.

Despite these efforts, EU trade officials remain cautious, citing concerns of “promise fatigue” and unresolved disputes over state support for Chinese firms and trade barriers.

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