Brussels Demands Trade Rebalancing with Beijing

The mounting imbalance, which threatens the stability of Europe’s core industries, has prompted Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to lead a high-stakes negotiation push. Von der Leyen insists the current trajectory is unsustainable, demanding that Beijing address market access barriers rather than relying on standard bilateral promises.

Beyond immediate trade talks, the bloc is moving to decouple its supply chain vulnerabilities. The Commission is launching a dedicated European Corporation for critical raw materials to stockpile rare earths and other essential minerals. By centralizing procurement and security, Brussels intends to insulate its economic future from the geopolitical leverage currently held by its primary trading partner.