Joint Statement of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism

On June 29, 2026, Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, and Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade, Economic Security, and Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency of the European Commission, held the first meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism in Brussels.

As key trading partners, China and the EU agreed that the main purpose of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism is to strengthen ministerial-level trade and investment policy dialogue to stabilize bilateral relations and make them more balanced.

At the first meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism, both sides pointed out that it is of great significance to properly handle the challenges affecting bilateral economic and trade relations and agreed to seek practical solutions. The China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism initially consists of four working areas:

- Trade and investment balance

- Export control

- Intellectual property

- WTO reform

Minister Wang Wentao and Commissioner Šefčovič authorized officials to maintain communication on the four working areas and agreed to hold another ministerial-level meeting in the autumn of 2026.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to establish a joint monitoring mechanism to exchange trade data, monitor trade flows and carry out relevant technical work to improve transparency, enhance mutual trust and manage trade frictions.

Both sides also agreed that expanding market access helps to balance trade relations. The two sides discussed possible tariff or non-tariff measures to this end, exchanged lists of market access issues, and agreed to continue consultations under the working area of trade and investment balance with a view to making progress on specific issues.

Both sides noted that positive results have been achieved in the China-EU export control dialogue on rare earths, other critical raw materials and minerals, and are willing to strengthen dialogue in this area. The two sides discussed the value of continuing to exchange information on their respective regulatory frameworks and licensing policies. Both sides recognized that export control dialogue should be strengthened and agreed to take further facilitation measures to maintain the stability of the global production and supply chain.

Both China and the EU emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation in the WTO, promote substantial progress in WTO reform, and improve the authority and effectiveness of the WTO. The two sides agreed to further strengthen communication and cooperation in the WTO.

Both sides recognized that the constructive exchanges of the China-EU Intellectual Property Working Group are the main channel for technical discussions on intellectual property between China and the EU. They discussed and agreed to resolve a series of systematic intellectual property issues to improve the efficiency, fairness and transparency of intellectual property protection and enforcement.

Source: Press Office of the Ministry of Commerce