Published on: 2026-09-03
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
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Beijing, September 3 /Xinhua/ — Trade negotiations between China and the European Union cannot be based on unilateral demands; they must address mutual concerns on an equal footing. This was stated on Thursday by Huang Ling, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC.
Juan Lin made the corresponding statement at a regular briefing for journalists, responding to a question about the warning from the European Commissioner for Trade Policy and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, regarding the possible use of trade defense instruments if negotiations with China do not yield results.
China has taken note of recent statements by M. Šefčovič, Huang Lin reported, emphasizing that the leaders of China and the EU have reached an important consensus on the need to properly address each other’s concerns through dialogue and consultations.
According to her, in recent years China has consistently been implementing this consensus, strengthening trade and economic dialogue and communication with the European Union and making efforts to resolve frictions and disagreements.
After the first meeting of the China-Europe trade and investment consultation mechanism, held on June 29, the Ministry of Commerce of China and the European side support close communication at various levels and are conducting in-depth studies of feasible ways to resolve trade and economic issues that cause concern to both sides, noted the official spokesperson of the department.
Huan Lin reported that from August 31 to September 2, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce Lin Ji held talks with Denis Redonnet, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission for Trade Policy and Economic Security, who was visiting China.
She noted that the parties conducted in-depth, frank, and constructive communication on matters of mutual interest, as well as ensured the holding of several rounds of professional consultations between their working groups.
“China would like to emphasize that China-Europe consultations at all levels should maintain a stable and balanced positioning of the key trade partnership between China and the EU, and should also address mutual concerns on an equal footing,” Huang Lin stated.
As she noted, neither party should make unilateral demands or dictate conditions, nor should they resort to threats of closing their market as a means of pressure.
China has repeatedly emphasized that the EU should take an objective look at the problems it faces, noted Huang Lin, adding that China is not the source of these problems, but can become a partner for the European side in solving them. “Protectionism has no future, and cooperation for mutual benefit is the right way forward,” she emphasized.
Juan Lin also stated that China is ready to jointly strengthen regular and institutionalized communication with the European Union in the trade and economic sphere, resolve disagreements, and promote practical cooperation. According to her, such efforts will contribute to a more balanced and steady development of bilateral trade.
The official representative of the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC called on the EU to adhere to the principles of free trade and to jointly protect the rules-based multilateral trading system with China, the core of which is the World Trade Organization, as well as to prevent further descent into the abyss of protectionism. –0–
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