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China-EU relations

China-EU relations
Breaking news, analysis and opinion on relations between China and the European Union, covering trade, investment, policy, the Belt and Road Initiative and wider issues such as the US-China trade war and human rights.
Open Questions series

Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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28
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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15
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
Members and supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party react to election results in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, on September 6, 2026. Photo: AFP
European Union

Far-right win in German election further shakes up China-EU relations

Outcome could harden Berlin’s stance towards Beijing ahead of an October deadline for trade rebalancing, analysts say.

China exports

Amid lack of grass lawns in China, the robotic mower sector chases EU market

Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | European chamber chief in Hong Kong heads to Brussels to ‘reset city’s image’

Arctic

EU gives Arctic shipping route cold shoulder as China and Russia push ahead

Its opposition to the commercialisation of Arctic transit comes amid rising anxiety over Beijing and Moscow’s closer polar collaboration.

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Europe is wary of fragile polar ecosystems and navigational risks. Photo: Getty Images
China trade

German companies want tougher EU-China policy despite supply chain reliance

The DIHK finds German firms facing Chinese competition back stronger EU action, but its trade chief warns against ‘blanket measures’.

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European Union

EU, China talk trade as Europe’s deadline for action looms

Negotiations have begun in Beijing amid the spectre of a possible EU-China trade war.

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China trade

Pursue a China deal but brace for backlash, Dutch advisory group urges EU

To correct growing economic imbalances, policymakers advise taking stronger defensive measures, despite risk of rising domestic costs.

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Flags of China and the Netherlands appear next to each other. Photo: Shutterstock
Mainland China

EU trade enforcers descend on Beijing demanding China fix ‘untenable’ imbalances

Brussels officials hold talks in the Chinese capital as they seek a commitment to reduce surging exports to the bloc.

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Semiconductors

What’s next after China court freezes US$318 million in Nexperia assets?

Bitter custody fight sparked by Dutch intervention has affected European supply lines, and assets look to remain frozen for years.

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France

France takes aim at ultra-fast fashion with fee per garment

New policy targets platforms like Shein and Temu, which have exploded in popularity in France.

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A Shein display inside the BHV department store in Paris, France. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

Beijing pushes back on Washington’s attempt to rally G20 over trade imbalance

After US Treasury Secretary Bessent called for coordinated response from G20 towards China, Beijing urged consultation instead.

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Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, speaks to journalists on July 22, 2025. Photo: dpa/File photo
China exports

As China-EU trade talk deadline nears, ex-Brussels official adopts bullish tone

The former president of the European Council says the two sides are approaching a common ground.

China manufacturing

China’s factory activity improves in August, but stays in contraction

The PMI index was up last month to 49.8 from 49.2 in July, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

European Union

Iceland votes to reject proposal to restart EU accession talks

Referendum fails as voters prioritise control over fishing grounds over pro-EU government’s push for geopolitical stability.

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A boat leaves the harbour in Reykjavik, Iceland, after voters rejected a proposal to restart European Union accession talks in a nationwide referendum. Photo: Reuters
China exports

From air conditioners to taps, Europe’s climate extremes boost China sales

Chinese makers of low-flow taps, garden gear and insulated drinkware are seeing European orders surge as heatwaves and drought reshape demand.

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Europe’s heatwaves and deepening drought are reshaping daily water use – and creating demand for Chinese-made water-saving products. Photo: EPA
China trade

China and Switzerland have a new trade agreement. What does it mean for the EU?

The move, seen by analysts as a signal to the EU, will eventually double duty-free coverage included in 12-year-old free-trade agreement.

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Semiconductors

Cut off from Europe, Nexperia China eyes self-reliance through domestic wafers

The Chinese division is betting on a high-stakes, home-grown supply chain pivot to bypass suspended European wafer shipments.

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Yuan

Opinion | Deutsche Bank’s yuan mandate boosts Chinese currency’s global reach

The clearing mandate from China elevates Frankfurt as a primary hub for offshore renminbi settlement, challenging London’s dominance.

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A woman sits in front of the Deutsche Bank central headquarters in Frankfurt on July 22. The People’s Bank of China has authorised Deutsche Bank to serve as a renminbi clearing bank, making it the first European lender to receive such approval. Photo: EPA
China trade

European wine producers seek new markets as China sales dream sours

Imports of bottled wine from the EU fell 16.6 per cent by volume in the first half of this year, according to Chinese customs data.

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China energy security

In Focus | China, the US and EU are taking separate climate paths – but are any dead ends?

As Beijing enacts a state-led approach to climate adaptation, Washington leans on the private sector and Brussels tries to chart a middle way.

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Malta

China’s trade grip tightens in Europe as clock ticks towards October deadline

As Brussels continues its push to rebalance ties, the latest data show China’s trade surplus expanded over all but three EU members in July.

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Shipping containers at a port in Nanjing, eastern China. Brussels has set a three-month deadline for a rebalancing of trade ties. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

The Mistral paradox: Europe’s push for tech sovereignty relies on China’s Z.ai

AI race contender’s decision to offer GLM-5.2 a sign of how European political and commercial incentives can pull in different directions.

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French company Mistral AI’s decision to offer a Chinese large language model has raised eyebrows against a backdrop of tense EU-China trade relations. Photo: Shutterstock
Mainland China

China blocks firms from aiding EU’s JD.com probe as regulatory clash deepens

Chinese justice and commerce ministries order the ban in a joint statement condemning ‘undue extraterritorial jurisdiction measures’.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s PHEVs gain traction in Spain amid EU tariffs, lack of EV charging hubs

Spain is one of the fastest-growing markets for Chinese plug-in hybrid vehicles as customers’ technological expectations shift gears.

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China-Latin America relations

US accuses 9 Latin American countries of helping China avoid Trump’s tariffs

More than 40 countries targeted for helping Beijing illegally avoid tariffs by rerouting trade via nations with lower American import duties.

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Chinese container ship Cosco Shipping Rose docks at the Panama Canal’s Cocoli locks in Panama City. The White House has accused nine Latin American economies of helping Beijing illegally evade US tariffs by rerouting trade through countries with lower US import duties. Photo: AP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese carmakers could capture 15% to 30% of European market by 2035: analysts

‘Made in Europe’ requirement in EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act cited as key factor in lowest growth forecast.

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Cars destined for export await loading onto BYD’s Shenzhen car carrier at the port in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, in April. Photo: AFP
China-Africa relations

How Africa is becoming a ‘strategic hub’ for Chinese industrial expansion

Countries including Zimbabwe and Guinea are ending the pit-to-ship model that saw them exporting raw minerals with limited local gains.

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China trade

EU’s new packaging rules leave China’s traders feeling boxed in

As trade tensions rise, Brussels has implemented new rules aimed at reducing packaging waste, with the threat of fines and bans for non-compliance.

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