China expands trade with France to bolster European ties amid tariff clash with Donald Trump
China pledges to buy more Airbus jetliners and farm products from France and to work on lowering barriers to its markets
China told France on Monday that it would buy more of its farm produce, hinted at future Airbus purchases and pledged to work on market access, shoring up its trade ties with Europe amid the increasing danger of a tariff war with the United States.
China’s premier, Li Keqiang, told French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe that Beijing was planning to buy more planes this year and was ready for further talks with France on obtaining Airbus aircraft.
Paris and the European planemaker have been working to salvage a deal since President Emmanuel Macron returned from Beijing empty-handed in January.
Industry sources say a blunder by diplomats and some of Macron’s own comments, revealing details of aeroplane negotiations with top officials, upset the Chinese.
“I explained to Mr Prime Minister that in recent years we have bought quite a lot of passenger aircraft, and there needs to be a period to digest this,” Li told a joint news conference. “In spite of this, we are still willing to strengthen cooperation with France’s Airbus.”