China News Service, Beijing, October 10 (Reporter Yin Qianyun) — The second regular meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism was held in Beijing from October 8 to 9. The two sides conducted equal, professional, and constructive talks on topics including trade and investment balance, export controls, intellectual property rights, and WTO reform, reaching 16 consensus outcomes.
Against the backdrop of a complex and volatile international trade environment where trade frictions occur from time to time, this China-EU dialogue has drawn considerable attention. Observers believe that the two sides not only made progress on multiple specific trade issues but also sent a clear signal of managing differences through dialogue.
China and the EU are important trade partners to each other, with close economic and trade ties and deeply integrated industrial and supply chains. However, in recent years, from electric vehicle trade to market access and export controls, their economic and trade relationship has faced some frictions and challenges. This time, both sides reaffirmed their positioning as stable and balanced key trade partners and confirmed that they will, within the framework of WTO rules, handle trade differences and each other's concerns in a balanced manner, explore deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote upward balance and forward development of China-EU trade.
A responsible official from the European Affairs Department of China's Ministry of Commerce stated that the consensus outcomes reached fully demonstrate that China and the EU have both the willingness and the wisdom to manage and properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, effectively avoiding escalation of frictions. For the China-EU economic and trade relationship, which is massive in scale and intertwined in interests, differences are difficult to completely avoid; the key lies in whether effective communication channels can be established to prevent frictions in a single area from spreading to a broader scope. Both sides agreed that the mechanism operates smoothly and efficiently, and that the successful convening of the second regular meeting is a new starting point, not an endpoint.
Ding Chun, Director of the Center for European Studies at Fudan University and President of the Shanghai European Society, believes that this shows managing differences through institutionalized and regularized dialogue is becoming an important way for both sides to stabilize economic and trade relations.
The list of consensus outcomes released after the meeting shows that both sides made practical progress in multiple areas. In the closely watched automotive trade sector, both sides reached an understanding on hybrid vehicle trade in a manner consistent with WTO rules. The EU side will also actively advance the price undertaking and review procedures related to the electric vehicle case.
The responsible official from the European Affairs Department of the Ministry of Commerce mentioned that both sides held in-depth discussions on electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle trade, avoiding escalation of the situation and effectively safeguarding the actual export interests of Chinese enterprises and the stable development of China-EU hybrid vehicle trade. The automotive industry is an important area of China-EU economic and trade cooperation and has also been one of the focal points of trade frictions in recent years. Analysts pointed out that progress in relevant consultations helps ease enterprises' concerns about trade policy uncertainty and creates a more stable environment for industrial cooperation between the two sides.
In addition, both sides agreed to continue communication and consultation on market access issues, gradually promote the resolution of each other's concerns regarding medical devices, agricultural and food products, and the inverter financing ban, and continuously promote upward balance in China-EU trade; agreed to further strengthen the China-EU export control dialogue mechanism, continue to enhance policy communication, promote the resolution of individual case concerns on both sides, and study the possibility of introducing facilitation measures; and agreed to conduct technical dialogue on the EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation (Fisker Inc.).
Ding Chun stated that although these arrangements still need further implementation, they also show that both sides are trying to respond to each other's concerns in a more pragmatic way, providing a good communication opportunity for subsequent consultations.
In addition to addressing existing differences, China and the EU are also actively seeking new growth points for cooperation. According to reports, both sides actively looked forward to future cooperation this time, believing that China and the EU have huge cooperation potential in areas such as new energy, artificial intelligence, trade in services, the digital economy, and green and low-carbon development, and can further tap new opportunities and expand new space.
Experts also cautioned that one round of consultation does not mean all problems are resolved, and advancing the implementation of practical outcomes remains key to follow-up work. According to the arrangements of both sides, the third regular meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism will be held in March 2027. Before that, both sides will maintain close communication at various levels, including a ministerial-level video conference in January. Ding Chun believes that this demonstrates the positive attitude of both China and the EU in easing contradictions and valuing each other's concerns, indicating that future China-EU economic and trade communication will continue to maintain continuity and predictability.