China's foreign ministry stated on Tuesday that the country is not the "root cause" of the European Union's economic difficulties, following high-level trade talks in Brussels aimed at preventing a damaging trade war. The remarks came after Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic on Monday.
Growing Trade Imbalance Raises Concerns
China's substantial and expanding trade surplus with the 27-nation bloc has increasingly worried European leaders, prompting pressure on Brussels to safeguard local industries. During the Monday discussions, Sefcovic delivered a stark warning that "the status quo is not an option."
Responding to questions about the talks on Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun emphasized that "China and the European Union are partners, not rivals." He further asserted that "the root causes of the issues facing the European Union do not lie with China."
Call for Deeper Cooperation
Guo stressed that "the key to resolving economic and trade issues between the two sides lies in deepening cooperation and achieving common development." He added that China is prepared to "strengthen communication and consultation with the EU side (and) properly handle trade differences in a constructive manner."
Sefcovic and Wang have agreed to meet again in October, this time in China. Brussels fears that without action against a flood of inexpensive Chinese goods threatening European manufacturers, the EU could lose entire industries.
Disputes Over Subsidies and Export Controls
Europe insists on a level playing field, arguing that Chinese firms benefit from an unfair advantage due to massive state subsidies. Beyond the trade imbalance, other contentious issues include Beijing's stringent export controls on rare earth elements—critical for modern technology—which were introduced last year.
