China warns EU against new trade curbs, vows firm response

China has warned the European Union against introducing further trade restrictions following internal discussions within the bloc on its relationship with Beijing, signalling it would respond firmly to any measures it considers discriminatory.

In a statement issued on Saturday, May 30, the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China urged the EU to uphold the principles of free trade and fair competition, while rejecting protectionism and unilateral actions, as per dpa.

The ministry said that if Brussels were to adopt “unilateral trade instruments” or impose discriminatory restrictions, China would “strike back decisively” and take “effective measures” to safeguard its interests.

The warning followed internal trade policy talks held by the European Commission on Friday, which focused on EU-China relations.

No concrete decisions were made during the meeting. Instead, the discussions were intended to contribute to broader deliberations ahead of an upcoming summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations, as well as a mid-June European Union summit.

After the talks, the European Commission described China as an important partner and said dialogue between the two sides would continue. At the same time, it acknowledged that the current state of trade and investment ties was “not sustainable,” pointing to increasingly close links between economic issues and security concerns.

The commission also called for “a more robust and coherent response” from the EU in managing its relationship with China.

Beijing, for its part, said communication channels with the bloc remain open and highlighted ongoing discussions aimed at establishing a consultation mechanism covering trade and investment.

Relations between China and the European Union have been under strain in recent months, amid EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, reciprocal investigations into each side’s market practices, and Chinese export controls on key raw materials.

By Tamilla Hasanova