EU trade chief heads to Beijing as deficit with China hits 360 billion euros

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič meets Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing for two days from 8 October 2026 after the EU’s trade deficit with China hit about €360 billion in 2025. EU figures put it at €360.6bn, up 15% from 2024 and 10% wider in early 2026; China cites around $292 billion. June Brussels talks set working groups on trade balance, export controls, IP and WTO reform; Šefčovič sought tangible results by October. Denis Redonnet told the European Parliament last week of “sustained and abnormal” surges and “potentially worrying trends for almost a quarter of all imports into the EU,” mainly Chinese. Hybrid exports from China rose from 3,800 in October 2024 to roughly 50,000 in July 2026. A rare-earth export moratorium expires in coming weeks. China launched an anti-dumping probe into EU p-nitrotoluene over the weekend and has pledged to respond firmly or resolutely to EU restrictions. Penny Naas expected “a few crumbs” but no major breakthrough; Zhu Tian foresaw specific-issue agreements rather than a broad settlement. Leaders meet 15-16 October; the Commission will review the Beijing outcome with trade-defense plans in December.