Chinese state media said Beijing can cope if trade ties with the European Union worsen further or freeze, as China and EU officials prepare for talks in Brussels amid disputes over trade defenses, export controls and the bloc’s growing deficit with China.

Chinese state media signaled on Monday that Beijing can withstand a further deterioration in trade relations with the European Union, just as Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao prepares to meet EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič in Brussels.

The warning, carried by the state-media account Yuyuantantian, came as both sides face pressure over trade-defense measures, export controls and the EU’s widening goods deficit with China. The Financial Times reported that China’s trade surplus with the bloc has climbed to about €360 billion.

Brussels talks under strain

Wang and Šefčovič are due to meet in Brussels on Monday, but the atmosphere has already darkened. The FT reported that China canceled two important diplomatic meetings ahead of Wang’s visit, a sign that friction is rising before the latest round of talks.

China has told the EU it is willing to expand imports from Europe, but says Brussels should first ease high-tech export controls. One of Beijing’s main complaints is Dutch restrictions affecting ASML lithography machines, which are used in semiconductor manufacturing.

EU weighs tougher defenses

On the European side, officials are considering new ways to curb the bloc’s trade imbalance with China. The proposed Industrial Accelerator Act would bar some Chinese products from public procurement contracts and limit some takeovers of European companies.

Brussels has also recently outlined measures aimed at excluding Chinese companies such as Huawei from telecommunications networks and solar energy systems. According to the FT’s reporting, the European Commission opened five trade-defense investigations in June.

The backdrop has made the talks more consequential for manufacturers on both sides. European firms are exposed to cheaper Chinese imports, while Chinese exporters remain dependent on access to the EU market.

What to watch next

The immediate question is whether the Brussels meeting yields any narrow technical progress or simply confirms a harder line on both sides. Any joint readout after the talks, or fresh moves on procurement, tariffs or export controls, could determine whether the dispute escalates further.

Revision note

Initial automated publication.