China warns EU to show restraint when seeking to counter Beijing’s trade tactics

Vice-premier He Lifeng urges Brussels to ‘exercise restraint’ during talks with the EU’s trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis during talks in Brussels

He also expressed concern about an EU probe into electric vehicles, while Dombrovskis said he had conveyed ‘key messages’ over war in Ukraine

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EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Chinese vice-premier He Lifeng pictured at a press conference following their talks in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

Finbarr Berminghamin BrusselsandKinling Loin Beijing

Published: 10:51pm, 25 Sep 2023Updated: 2:42am, 26 Sep 2023

China has warned the European Union to tread carefully when using trade weapons designed with Beijing in mind, following economic talks that delivered meagre concrete gains.

At a press conference in Beijing, vice-premier He Lifeng told Brussels to “exercise restraint” when it comes to using instruments widely seen to be aimed at China, name-checking the EU’s international procurement instrument, the foreign subsidies law and the carbon-border adjustment mechanism.

He said that he had “expressed our strong concern and dissatisfaction” about its investigation into cheap Chinese electric vehicles.

“We hope the EU will exercise caution and keep its markets open. This benefits EU consumers, greener low carbon development, and global climate change cooperation,” He said.

Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU’s trade chief, said he had “been able to convey directly to Chinese leadership some key messages” around Russia during the talks, adding that he had asked for help to “bring back the Black Sea Grain Initiative”, the deal that enabled Ukrainian grain exports.

“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is endangering not only lives but also global food supplies,” Dombrovskis said.

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