EU-China Trade Relations Ahead of the July Summit

Heightened economic and geopolitical tensions mark the state of EU-China trade relations as a summit between their leaders approaches. How are the two parties navigating the global restructuring caused by US policies? What key challenges are the EU and China confronting as they do so and what is the impact on their relationship?

This event will look at the top security and economic issues impacting the trade relationship between Brussels and Beijing. They include Chinese support for the Kremlin’s war of aggression in Ukraine, especially its large-scale provision of dual-use goods, a development that has spurred European leaders to see the broader relationship between China and Russia through a prism of “systemic rivalry”. The EU's “de-risking” strategy, the challenges of maintaining open markets while addressing security and competitiveness concerns, and the effects of US tariffs are additional, influential critical issues.

The event will also explore the potential for other concerns—China’s growing impact on the European security order, the development of an authoritarian bloc with Russia, and Taiwan’s security—to influence the EU-China summit agenda.