The European Union’s agri-food sector recorded another record year in 2025, consolidating its global leadership in agricultural trade. The trade surplus was approximately four times higher than in 2002, and the EU remains a net exporter in most agri-food categories. Furthermore, the sector contributed 37% of the EU’s total trade surplus in 2025, underlining its […]
XXV EU-China Summit
The European Union (EU) and China held their 25th Summit in Beijing on 24 July 2025. European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met first with Chinese President Xi Jinping and then with Premier Li Qiang. EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Kaja Kallas also took part […]
EP calls for addressing China’s restrictions on rare earth exports
Parliament is concerned about China’s export restrictions on key raw materials and the impact on the EU economy. On 4 April 2025, China imposed export restrictions on seven rare earth elements and magnets used in the defence, energy and automotive sectors in response to increased US tariffs on Chinese products. Under the new rules, exporters […]
Commission restricts Chinese participation in medical devices procurement
The European Commission decided to exclude Chinese companies from EU government purchases of medical devices exceeding €5 million. This measure follows the conclusions of the first investigation under the International Procurement Instrument (IPI), and allows no more than 50% of inputs from China for successful bids. This response is proportionate to China’s barriers, while ensuring that all the necessary medical devices […]
China lifts sanctions against MEPs
The lifting of Chinese sanctions against Members of the European Parliament marks a step in restoring parliamentary dialogue with China. Last April 30, President Metsola informed the Conference of Presidents of the decision of the Chinese authorities to lift the sanctions against any Member (as well as their families) and Committees of the European Parliament. […]
The EU challenges China at the WTO over tariffs on the high-tech sector
The European Commission has requested consultations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) aiming to remove unfair and illegal trade practices by China in the sphere of intellectual property. China has empowered its courts to set binding worldwide royalty rates for EU standard essential patents, without the consent of the patent owner. This pressures innovative European high-tech companies […]
More military support for Ukraine amid the involvement of China and North Korea
In a resolution adopted on Thursday, Parliament condemned Russia’s use of North Korean troops against the Ukrainian army and its testing of new ballistic missiles in Ukraine. These recent escalatory steps represent a new phase in the war and a new risk for Europe’s security as a whole, MEPs argue, calling on the EU and […]
Commission challenges China’s anti-dumping tariffs on EU brandy at the WTO
Yesterday, the European Commission has formally requested consultations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the provisional anti-dumping measures imposed by China on imports of EU brandy. This step reflects the EU’s firmly held view that China’s provisional measures on EU brandy are not in line with WTO rules. China has not proven that there is any threat of […]
EU imposes duties on unfairly subsidised electric vehicles from China
Today the European Commission concluded its anti-subsidy investigation by imposing definitive countervailing duties on imports of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China for a period of five years. As previously disclosed, the investigation found that the BEV value chain in China benefits from unfair subsidization which is causing threat of economic injury to EU producers of BEVs. As […]