China and the European Union (EU) have agreed to hold their next high-level trade and investment meeting in March 2027, reaffirming their commitment to stable and more balanced economic ties amid ongoing trade tensions.
The decision followed two days of discussions in Beijing on October 8–9, co-chaired by Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič. The talks produced 16 areas of consensus covering trade and investment balance, export controls, intellectual property rights and World Trade Organization (WTO) reform.
Both sides agreed to continue exploring possible tariff reductions on selected goods under WTO rules and to pursue dialogue on electric and hybrid vehicles, rare-earth export licensing and the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation.
China also expressed its willingness to facilitate EU-bound export licence applications for rare earths and permanent magnets, while the EU said it would continue working to resolve key licensing cases involving China.
The two economies will maintain communication ahead of the next meeting, including through a ministerial-level video conference planned for January 2027. The discussions aim to manage trade differences, improve market access and strengthen cooperation between two major global trading partners.
