Key facts
- China and the EU have established a new ministerial trade and investment consultation mechanism.
- The mechanism will serve as a structured channel to manage disputes.
- Key areas of dispute include market access, export controls, and trade imbalances.
- The first meeting was co-chaired by Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič in Brussels.
- A joint statement was released after the meeting.
China and the European Union have agreed to establish a new ministerial trade and investment consultation mechanism, creating a structured channel to manage disputes over market access, export controls, and a widening trade imbalance. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Commission trade and economic security chief Maroš Šefčovič co-chaired the first meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels on Monday. Following the meeting, they issued a joint statement.