Ministry of Commerce: If the EU takes discriminatory restrictive measures against Chinese products, China will surely take all necessary measures.

On October 29, the Ministry of Commerce held a regular press conference. Regarding media reports that the EU side is studying extending the trade understanding arrangement reached between China and the EU in the hybrid vehicle sector to chemicals and other fields, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Huang Ling said that the second regular meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism recently achieved positive progress and a number of consensus outcomes, demonstrating that the two sides not only have the will but also the ability and wisdom to properly handle economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation. The Chinese side has repeatedly emphasized that China is not the root cause of the problems facing the EU, but a partner in solving them, and is willing to strengthen dialogue and consultation with the EU side, continue to explore solutions to each other's economic and trade concerns, and promote China-EU trade toward upward balance and forward development. However, the Chinese side firmly opposes any protectionist behavior that abuses trade defense tools. If the EU side insists on going its own way and takes discriminatory restrictive measures against Chinese products, China will surely take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its own interests and the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises. Huang Ling said that artificially imposing limits on normal trade is suspected of violating WTO rules and will not only fail to help improve the competitiveness of EU industries, but will instead increase the burden on downstream industries, thereby pushing up the EU's inflation level and affecting the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains. The original text is as follows: Ministry of Commerce Holds Regular Press Conference [Huang Ling]: Friends from the press: Good afternoon, welcome to the regular press conference of the Ministry of Commerce. Today I have no information to announce to you and am willing to answer questions from journalists. Please go ahead. [Journalist from Economic Information Daily]: We have noted that in six days, the ninth China International Import Expo will open in Shanghai. How are the preparations going? What are the highlights and features? [Huang Ling]: The ninth China International Import Expo will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10, and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum will be held at the same time. This is an important economic and diplomatic event held after the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. This week, the first batch of exhibits arrived after traveling across the ocean and officially entered the venue, marking that preparations for this year's CIIE have entered the final sprint stage. At present, all types of booths, including the country exhibition, enterprise exhibition, and people-to-people exchange activities, have been set up. Here I would also like to give everyone a key "preview" of several highlights of this year's CIIE: First, the scale is large. A total of 162 countries, regions, and international organizations are participating, and the overall exhibition display area has exceeded 440,000 square meters for the first time, with more global quality products gathering at the CIIE. Second, there are many debuts. More than 480 representative innovative achievements will be unveiled in a concentrated manner, with "global debut, Asia premiere, China first exhibition" reaching a new high compared with previous sessions, reflecting China's strong appeal as a global "innovation engine." Third, participation is broad. Overseas exhibition organizers have become a "new force" in participating, and this year more than 90 overseas exhibition delegations will appear, with exhibition area increasing by nearly 8% year on year. In addition, registration of visitors and sign-ups from all parties for this year's CIIE have been active. The schedule of about 80 supporting activities has been published on the CIIE official website and official WeChat account, and more than 1,300 institutions are participating in the display of people-to-people exchange activities. Everyone is welcome to continue following and reporting on "CIIE quality products" and exciting activities. Thank you. [Journalist from International Business Daily]: Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and three other departments issued the Notice on Further Improving the Level of Trade Liberalization and Facilitation of the Hainan Free Trade Port. Could you introduce the highlights of the Notice? How will it promote innovative trade development in the Hainan Free Trade Port? [Huang Ling]: Since the Hainan Free Trade Port began island-wide independent customs operations on December 18, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce has actively supported Hainan in implementing the customs operation policies and advancing opening up, innovation, and development in trade and other fields, achieving new results. The Notice issued by the Ministry of Commerce and three other departments this time mainly has three highlights: First, innovating trade management models. For example, aviation kerosene entering bonded storage facilities in Hainan from overseas and used for export may be inspected according to international standards; also, for example, the administrative licensing for some foreign-related economic and technical exhibitions jointly hosted in China by foreign institutions will be entrusted to Hainan for implementation. Second, responding to the demands of business entities. Products produced by enterprises in Hainan's special customs supervision areas through bonded remanufacturing are allowed to enter domestic pilot free trade zones. Third, expanding high-level voluntary opening up. Eligible overseas enterprises may use the bonded facilities of Hainan's LNG receiving station without registering in China; the validity period of practice licenses for foreign physicians in Hainan will be extended from 1 year to 3 years, and so on. These measures will further enhance the trade management and service capabilities of the Hainan Free Trade Port and drive the upgrading of related industries. Next, the Ministry of Commerce will work with relevant departments and Hainan Province to implement policies and measures in detail and better build a free trade port with Chinese characteristics. Thank you. [Journalist from Hong Kong Economic Herald]: The ninth CIIE is about to be held. Could you introduce the participation of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan in this year's CIIE? [Huang Ling]: At present, preparations for this year's CIIE are basically complete. Enterprises from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are enthusiastic participants, with prominent highlights and improved quality and effectiveness, fully demonstrating the good momentum of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan deeply integrating into the overall development of the country. At this year's CIIE, the number of exhibiting enterprises from Hong Kong is nearly 400, a record high, with an exhibition area of nearly 36,000 square meters. A Hong Kong professional theme pavilion will be set up, focusing on advantageous fields such as food consumption and professional services, and a "Going Global Services Exhibition Area" will be established for the first time, continuously using the CIIE platform to deepen economic and trade connections between the two places and share opportunities in the mainland and overseas markets. The number of exhibiting enterprises from Macao is nearly 80, with an exhibition area of about 3,400 square meters, up 52.6% year on year, a record high. The exhibition area will set up a "Commercial Exchange Pavilion Display Area" for the first time, concentrating on displaying Macao's specialty foods and beverages, professional services, and cultural tourism and commercial resources, and, based on its positioning as a commercial cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, display specialty and quality products from Portuguese-speaking countries, continuously smoothing the channels for economic and trade cooperation among the mainland, Macao, and Portuguese-speaking countries. The exhibition area of enterprises from the Taiwan region is about 4,200 square meters, up 10.1% year on year, covering multiple fields such as food and daily chemicals, consumer goods, medical health, precision manufacturing, and modern services. Many Taiwanese businessmen and enterprises continue to use the CIIE as an important window to deeply cultivate the mainland market, share opening-up dividends, and actively integrate into and serve the construction of the new development pattern. In addition, on the afternoon of November 5, the Ministry of Commerce will specially hold a "Hong Kong Sub-forum" with the Hong Kong SAR Government at the ninth Hongqiao International Economic Forum, with the theme of "Aligning with the 15th Five-Year Plan, Serving National Development, Hong Kong's New Opportunities," actively supporting Hong Kong in giving full play to its unique status and important role of relying on the motherland and connecting with the world, continuously consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial, shipping, and trade center and an international aviation hub, and helping Hong Kong transform the "vision map" of its first five-year plan into a "real scene map" for development. Friends from the press are welcome to follow and report. Thank you. [Journalist from China Daily]: We have noted that Peru issued a relevant decree on October 27 announcing that the upgraded protocol to the China-Peru Free Trade Agreement will enter into force on November 1. What is China's comment on this? [Huang Ling]: The China-Peru Free Trade Agreement was signed in April 2009 and is the first comprehensive free trade agreement signed between China and a Latin American country. In November 2018, the two sides announced the launch of negotiations to upgrade the China-Peru FTA and substantially completed them in June 2024. In November 2024, the two sides formally signed the upgraded protocol to the China-Peru FTA. Through joint efforts, both sides have now completed their respective domestic procedures, and the upgraded protocol will officially enter into force on November 1. Under the current international situation, this reflects the two countries' determination to jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade. The implementation of the upgraded protocol will promote the in-depth development of China-Peru economic and trade relations, enrich the connotation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, create a more favorable business environment and opportunities for trade and investment cooperation for enterprises of both sides, and bring more tangible benefits to the peoples of the two countries. Friends from the media are welcome to follow and report. Thank you. [Journalist from Market News International]: Media reports say the EU side is studying extending the trade understanding arrangement reached between China and the EU in the hybrid vehicle sector to chemicals and other fields. Has the Ministry of Commerce received formal communication from the EU side on relevant ideas? How do you view the possibility of extending such arrangements to other industries? [Huang Ling]: Artificially imposing limits on normal trade is suspected of violating WTO rules and will not only fail to help improve the competitiveness of EU industries, but will instead increase the burden on downstream industries, thereby pushing up the EU's inflation level and affecting the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains. The second regular meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism recently achieved positive progress and a number of consensus outcomes, demonstrating that the two sides not only have the will but also the ability and wisdom to properly handle economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation. The Chinese side has repeatedly emphasized that China is not the root cause of the problems facing the EU, but a partner in solving them, and is willing to strengthen dialogue and consultation with the EU side, continue to explore solutions to each other's economic and trade concerns, and promote China-EU trade toward upward balance and forward development. However, the Chinese side firmly opposes any protectionist behavior that abuses trade defense tools. If the EU side insists on going its own way and takes discriminatory restrictive measures against Chinese products, China will surely take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its own interests and the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises. Thank you. This article is excerpted from the official website of the Ministry of Commerce, edited by GMTEight: Jiang Yuanhua.