China-EU Trade: Xi Meets EU Representatives in Beijing for Summit

EU-China Relations & Trade Dynamics - Expectations for the EU-China summit are low, with a joint statement on climate action being the most likely deliverable [1] - The EU-China relationship is at an inflection point, with potential for improvement or deterioration [2] - China seeks a "win-win" relationship with the EU, a major trading partner [2] - The EU is concerned about the trade imbalance with China, where China exports significantly more to the EU than it imports [3] Trade Imbalance & Shifting Geopolitics - The EU's trade imbalance concerns with China have intensified recently [3] - China has positioned itself as a partner for countries facing unilateral tariffs, particularly in the context of trade conflicts [5] - Closer ties between the EU and the US (potentially through a 15% tariff deal) could reduce the EU's incentive to make concessions to China [4][6] - The idea of EU-China alignment solely based on shared trade rivals is not substantial due to underlying economic issues [6] Key Issues & Obstacles - The EU is troubled by China's economic and diplomatic support for Russia following the invasion of Ukraine [7] - European public opinion views Russia as the greatest threat, making China's support for Moscow problematic [7][8] - EU concerns include the decline in its vehicle exports to China, while China's electric vehicle exports to the EU have increased dramatically [8]