A workers member prepares for the arrival of Chinese language Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and EU Government Vice-President for a Clear, Simply and Aggressive Transition, Teresa Ribera throughout China-EU Sixth Excessive Stage Surroundings and Local weather Dialogue (HECD) on the Diaoyutai State Visitor Home in Beijing on July 14, 2025.
Wang Zhao | Afp | Getty Photos
China and the European Union will maintain a top-level assembly in Beijing on Thursday, whereas the U.S. is making their already tense relationship extra sophisticated.
Clashes over commerce and financial coverage, technological points and protection and safety have been commonplace between China and the EU — and tensions have just lately been heating up.
For instance, the EU imposed restrictions on Chinese language firms participating in public tenders for medical units within the bloc, prompting China to reply with countermeasures.
Largely, the pressure between the 2 buying and selling companions is linked to issues about how home economies and corporations may very well be impacted by imports.
The high-stakes summit, which is the twenty fifth between the companions and marks 50 years of bilateral relations, was due to this fact already happening beneath lower than best circumstances.
Initially scheduled to happen in Brussels, the assembly was then minimize from two days to 1 — which was broadly understood as one other signal of fragile EU-China ties.
“Relations between Brussels and Beijing are significantly tense,” Jörn Fleck, senior director on the Europe Heart on the Atlantic Council, informed CNBC.
“The EU and China have extra to argue about than they agree on, even when neither aspect can afford to let the connection deteriorate a lot additional given the worldwide outlook and their respective financial positions,” Fleck mentioned.
The U.S. as a complicating issue
After which, there may be U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff coverage to deal with.
“Largely irreconcilable EU-China variations will severely constrain potential cooperation, regardless of mutual curiosity in countering a few of President Trump’s insurance policies — led by US commerce measures and unilateralism,” Emre Peker, director for Europe at Eurasia Group, informed CNBC.
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