ExclusiveEU and China set for Paris talks this week as trade war fears mount

Bloc puts ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to test in high-stakes meeting with Beijing’s international trade envoy on sidelines of OECD meeting

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While there is acknowledgement in the EU of the growing quality of Chinese exporters, concern remains that it is tainted by unfair trading practices that make competition impossible for European firms. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:20pm, 3 Jun 2026Updated: 8:55pm, 3 Jun 2026

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic will meet China’s international trade envoy, Li Chenggang, in Paris on Thursday, as the sides look to defuse tensions that have pushed them to the brink of a trade war.

The officials will meet on the sidelines of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ministerial meeting, setting the stage for a month of intensified engagement ahead of Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s visit to Brussels on June 28 and 29, according to people familiar with the plan.

EU sources said the sides sought to establish a new platform for discussing trade and investment issues, even as Brussels prepared to take a more hardline stance towards Chinese economic practices.

The EU has been keen to streamline dialogue with China from an estimated 60 working groups into something more manageable. On Saturday, China’s Ministry of Commerce confirmed that a “trade and investment consultation mechanism” was being discussed.

Ling Ji, China’s vice-commerce minister responsible for Europe, is expected next week in Brussels, where he is likely to meet Ditte Juul Jørgensen, the bloc’s new director general for trade.

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic is to meet his Chinese counterpart for talks in Paris. Photo: Pool Photo via AP

Trade tensions have soared in recent weeks as Beijing has responded forcefully to Brussels’ plans to adopt a stronger policy for dealing with imbalances emanating from the Chinese economy.

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Bloc puts ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to test in high-stakes meeting with Beijing’s international trade envoy on sidelines of OECD meeting

Bloc puts ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to test in high-stakes meeting with Beijing’s international trade envoy on sidelines of OECD meeting