Europe seeks ‘normal, fair’ China trade ties in wake of Trump win: EU envoy Jorge Toledo

The EU is increasingly anxious about incoming US president Donald Trump’s cross-Atlantic moves, while its trade row with China has deepened

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The European Union aims to push ahead with talks with China “until we find a mutually agreeable solution” to trade frictions, according to the bloc’s ambassador to Beijing. Photo: AP

Published: 3:06pm, 9 Nov 2024Updated: 3:13pm, 9 Nov 2024

Donald Trump’s return to the White House could present a chance for China and Europe to mend trade ties, the EU ambassador to Beijing has said, while warning of geopolitical “choppy waters ahead”.

“What happened a couple of days or three days ago in the US may change … the global landscape but it can also be an opportunity for China and Europe to resume more normal relations,” Jorge Toledo said on Saturday, referring to Trump’s sweeping victory in the US presidential elections.

“Because now we are in a difficult moment. We can’t hide it. We want, in Europe, to resume normal, fair relations with China especially when it comes to business and investment relations,” Toledo told an event marking the 30th anniversary of the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai.

The comments from the European Union envoy come amid growing anxieties in Brussels following Trump’s election win on Tuesday. The former president has threatened to relaunch a trade war with Europe, withdraw US support for Ukraine, and roll back Washington’s Nato security commitment.

Meanwhile, a trade row between the EU and China has deepened, with the bloc’s increased tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) taking effect last week.

China has responded to the development by filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization, saying it would take “all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies”.