Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – According to the Financial Times, the European Union is not holding an economic meeting with China due to slow progress on trade disputes, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two sides despite China’s efforts to improve relations.
On July 24 and 25, 2025, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa will travel to China to attend an EU-China summit with top Chinese officials.
The summit is intended to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the EU and China. At the summit, the EU leaders will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, among other leaders. The first day of talks will take place in Beijing and the second in Anhui a central industrial province in China.
Why did the EU cancel the economic dialogue with China?
Financial Times, citing four people with knowledge of the situation, reported that European authorities chose to cancel the main EU-China High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue. According to the publication, the economic gathering will prepare the way for a leaders’ conference scheduled for July 24–25 in China. One person told the FT that Beijing is keen to have the dialogue, but the EU claims no progress has been made in talks.
How is China responding to EU trade pushback?
The disruption highlights the difficulties facing President Xi Jinping as he seeks to strengthen ties with the EU, which have been strained by his backing for Russia’s war in Ukraine and allegations of dumping. Beijing is attempting to present itself as a more dependable partner than US President Donald Trump, who is distancing himself from allies over issues ranging from tariffs to defence.
Earlier this month, Beijing reported that talks over the EU’s electric vehicle tariffs had made a significant stride towards a satisfactory resolution, following a meeting between China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Union Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in France.
However, fresh tensions have emerged in recent weeks over China’s decision to impose export curbs on rare earth metals crucial to Europe’s automotive industry. Although Beijing introduced the restrictions in response to Trump’s new tariffs, the requirement for an export permit now applies to all overseas shipments.
What did von der Leyen say at the G7?
On the other hand, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday criticised China at a Group of Seven summit. “The sources of the biggest collective problem we have has its origins in the accession of China to the WTO in 2001,” she stated, referring to the World Trade Organization. “China has largely shown its unwillingness to live within the constraints of the rules based international system.”
