MEPs visit China next week to discuss trade challenges and opportunities 

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Trade committee MEPs will travel to China to discuss the country’s trade policy and how it impacts European businesses and jobs, while also exploring opportunities for dialogue.

The delegation led by Bernd Lange (S&D, DE), chair of Parliament’s International Trade committee (INTA), will visit Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai (China) from 27 to 29 October. This is the second time an INTA delegation has visited China, the last time was in 2018.

During the visit, the MEPs are set to raise key concerns, such as EU dependence on critical raw materials and technologies, China’s excess production capacity leading to market imbalances, and unequal market access for European companies in China. Talks are also expected to cover the growing influx of cheap Chinese goods on the EU market, the EU’s planned Industrial Accelerator Act (“Made in Europe” rules) and the new EU-China agreement on hybrid car imports.

Programme

The MEPs will hold direct talks with Chinese counterparts, and regional and national government officials, including from the Ministry of Commerce. They will also meet with representatives of the EU Chamber of Commerce to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by European companies in China, and with International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank representatives. In Hangzhou, a major Chinese technology hub, the delegation will visit two of China’s top innovators: Unitree and BrainCo.

Quote

Ahead of the visit, Bernd Lange said: “Our mission takes place at a pivotal moment for EU-China trade relations. The recent agreement on hybrid cars is just the starting point. Many issues remain on the table, from industrial overcapacity to access to rare earths. Currently, the EU faces a daily trade deficit of 1 billion euros with China, due in part to its import restrictions on EU companies. We look forward to engaging directly with our counterparts in China, to keep the dialogue going, strive for a breakthrough and achieve tangible results in the near future.”

Composition

INTA chair Bernd Lange (S&D, DE) will be the head of the delegation. He will be accompanied by: Pascal Canfin, INTA standing rapporteur for China (Renew FR); Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (EPP, ES); Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D, BE); Enikő Győri (PfE, HU); Jaak Madison (ECR, ET); Markéta Gregorová (Greens/EFA, CS); Rudi Kennes (The Left, BE); Angelika Niebler (EPP, DE); Jörgen Warborn (EPP, SV); Brando Benifei (S&D, IT); and Engin Eroglu (Renew, DE), chair of the Delegation for Relations with the People’s Republic of China.

Context

The EU and China are important trading partners. China is the EU’s third largest trading partner for goods and services combined, while the EU is among China’s top trading partners. The EU’s deficit with China has been growing steadily, recently reaching €1 billion a day. The EU’s economic relationship with China is perceived as unbalanced, due to a significant asymmetry in respective market openings. The visit follows recent talks between EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Chinese officials, as well as discussions among EU leaders. This will be the fourth delegation from the European Parliament to travel to China in 2026.