Joint Statement on China-EU Trade and Investment Agreement Negotiations

According to the Ministry of Commerce, on June 29, 2026, Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, and Maurosh Shefchovich, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security and Institutional Relations and Transparency of the European Commission, held the first meeting of the China-EU Trade Investment Consultation Mechanism in Brussels. As key trading partners, China and the EU agreed that the main purpose of the China-EU Trade Investment Consultation Mechanism is to strengthen ministerial-level dialogue on trade and investment policies to stabilize bilateral relations and make them more balanced. During the first meeting of the China-EU Trade Investment Consultation Mechanism, both sides emphasized the importance of addressing challenges that affect bilateral economic and trade relations and agreed to seek practical solutions. The China-EU Trade Investment Consultation Mechanism initially focused on four working groups: - Trade and investment balance - Export control - Intellectual property rights - WTO reform Wang Wentao and Shefchovich authorized officials to maintain communication on the four working groups and agreed to hold another ministerial-level meeting in the fall of 2026. During the meeting, both sides agreed to establish a joint monitoring mechanism, exchange trade data, monitor trade flows, and conduct related technical work to enhance transparency, build trust, and manage trade frictions. Both sides agreed that expanding market access helps balance trade relations. They discussed possible tariff or non-tariff measures and exchanged lists of market access issues, agreeing to continue consultations under the trade and investment balance working group to make progress on specific issues. Both sides acknowledged the positive outcomes of the China-EU export control dialogue on rare earths, other key raw materials, and minerals, and expressed willingness to strengthen dialogue in this area. They discussed the value of continuing to exchange information on their respective regulatory frameworks and licensing policies. They recognized the need to strengthen export control dialogue and agreed to take further facilitative measures to maintain the stability of global production and supply chains. Both sides emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation in the WTO, promote substantial progress in WTO reform, and enhance the authority and effectiveness of the WTO. They agreed to further enhance communication and cooperation within the WTO. Both sides recognized that constructive exchanges within the China-EU intellectual property working group are the main channel for discussing intellectual property issues at the technical level. They discussed and agreed to address a range of systemic intellectual property issues to improve the efficiency, fairness, and transparency of intellectual property protection and enforcement. This article is compiled from the Ministry of Commerce website, edited by GMTEight: Feng Qiuyi.