Brussels should fulfill its part to translate hard-won consultation outcomes into action: China Daily editorial

Days after China and the European Union reached their latest trade and investment consultation consensus, it is disappointing to learn that the EU is again calling for new trade weapons to address the so-called "trade imbalances" with China.

Before launching a new trade offensive, EU leaders should first acknowledge the significance of the agreement reached at last week's second meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism, which was heralded as "a new beginning". What EU leaders should be discussing at their summit in Brussels this week is how to translate the hard-won results of the consultation into action.

However, it seems that some EU policymakers have misinterpreted the outcomes of the meeting. As one senior EU diplomat put it: "One swallow does not make a summer, but it's a first result and the start of a process to get China to moderate its exports."

This view seems to mistake the 16-point consensus reached between the two sides as a case of the EU chalking up points on a scoreboard as a result of the pressure it applied. In reality, it was a negotiated agreement.

The EU's continued insistence on applying restrictive trade measures ignores the fact that the competitiveness of European products is declining due to their relatively lagging technology and innovation capabilities, coupled with increased energy costs.

Attributing the EU's so-called "trade imbalances" to Chinese policies oversimplifies a complex issue that involves multiple factors, including consumer preferences, global supply chain dynamics and the hefty US tariffs that contributed in no small part to the economic challenges.

While it is true that the consensus that has been reached is only on some specific issues, and it has not addressed all the issues, the European side has an incorrect understanding of the meeting's outcome if it thinks that it has won concessions from China and can win more by exerting more pressure.

Despite the aggressive trade posture of the EU, China is committed to engaging in dialogue to find a mutually beneficial way to ease frictions.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday that China is willing to continue facilitating the approval process for export licenses for rare earths destined for the EU, and hopes that the European side will, on a reciprocal basis, facilitate the resolution of specific key licensing cases involving dual-use items exported to China.

This demonstrates China's goodwill in implementing the outcomes of its consultations with the EU. The spokesperson added that China will work with the European side to continue leveraging the export control dialogue mechanism, with the aim of promoting the growth of trade in dual-use items between the two sides.

It is crucial for the EU to recognize this sincerity and avoid interpreting it as a sign of weakness that invites further pressure. If the EU proceeds with deploying new trade weapons, it risks rendering previous efforts futile, and China will be forced to respond with resolute countermeasures.

Ultimately, a stable and more balanced China-EU economic relationship will be built not by narrowing the space for trade, but by expanding the opportunities it creates. Dialogue and negotiation should remain the rational tools for addressing differences.

The consultation outcomes provide a foundation for continued engagement, and both parties should focus on implementing its provisions effectively. By doing so, the EU and China can work toward a more sustainable trade relationship that benefits both sides and contributes to global economic stability.

In the consultation meeting in Beijing, the two sides also agreed that they have significant potential for cooperation in new energy, artificial intelligence, trade in services, the digital economy, and green and low-carbon development and that they could further explore new opportunities and expand areas of cooperation. This is what the EU should seek to build on rather than throwing wrenches into the works.