Brussels Demands Trade Results by October to Close Gap with China

Sefcovic described his recent negotiations with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao as intensive and focused, marking a transition from general dialogue to a results-oriented phase. The core of the European concern lies in the structural imbalance of the trade relationship, which officials now characterize as unsustainable. To address this, both sides have established specialized working groups tasked with tackling export controls, intellectual property protections, and necessary reforms within the World Trade Organization.

Despite the friction, Wang Wentao offered assurances that China’s recent export controls on rare earth materials will not disrupt European supply chains. This pledge comes as the European Commission faces mounting internal mandates to demonstrate that its diplomatic strategy can yield concrete concessions. Whether these working groups can translate technical discussions into a narrowing of the record-breaking trade surplus remains the critical test for the partnership heading into the autumn.