Photo: AFP/Pedro Pardo
Eurasia
27/09/2023 17:00
The 27-member bloc has long complained about the lack of a level playing field in China and the politicization of the business environment. The world's second-largest economy remains central to European firms' supply chains, but executives are growing uneasy as the economy falters and geopolitical tensions rise.
The EU's trade deficit with China widened to $276.6 billion in 2022 from $208.4 billion a year earlier, Chinese customs data show, the site noted.
China said after the talks that it would be willing to take more European exports.
"China hopes the EU will exercise restraint in the use of trade remedy measures and stabilize the expectations of China-EU trade development," Vice Premier He Lifeng told the joint news conference at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where foreign dignitaries are often received.
The EU said it was open for competition, including in the electric vehicle sector, but that competition had to be fair. China has blasted the probe as protectionist.
"The European side should act with caution and continue to keep its market free and open," He said in relation to the probe.
Dombrovskis announced both sides had agreed to set up two working groups to discuss the transfer of data in the financial services sector and market access issues in the cosmetics industry, as well as a mechanism to resolve supply chain disputes over raw materials.