EU Demands China Take Immediate Action on Trade Gap by Early October

POLICY WIRE — Brussels, EU — The European Union has set a firm deadline for China to take initial steps toward addressing its growing trade deficit, aiming for commitments by early October. This...

Editorial Desk

September 9, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Brussels, EU — The European Union has set a firm deadline for China to take initial steps toward addressing its growing trade deficit, aiming for commitments by early October. This comes as the bloc’s trade gap with Beijing reached €360.6 billion ($412 billion) in 2025, with the imbalance increasing by 9% in the first half of 2026.

The EU is no longer relying on diplomatic appeals and is preparing contingency measures should China fail to meet expectations. European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič announced the push for action following intense discussions with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, who agreed to establish a joint monitoring mechanism to track trade flows and ease economic tensions.

China’s exports surged 25% year-on-year in August, driven by strong demand for automobiles and high-tech products, while imports rose 28.2%, resulting in a $119.1 billion trade surplus. Analysts note that China’s growing influence in global markets, particularly in semiconductors and electric vehicles, has contributed to the widening disparity. Meanwhile, the EU continues to implement protective measures, including restrictions on Chinese e-commerce imports and steel industry safeguards.

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Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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