China and the European Union agreed on these 16 resolutions from their joint Trade Talks in Beijing

By Shen Shiwei – China Briefing

As night fell late over Beijing, a major development in the second Trade and Investment Consultations mechanism meeting between China and the European Union emerged.

China and the European Union reached 16 outcomes across four key areas following two days of talks on October 8–9, according to a joint statement released by China’s Ministry of Commerce on October 9.

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič discussed trade and investment balancing, export controls, intellectual property rights and World Trade Organization (WTO) reform.

Both sides pledged to manage differences within the WTO framework and work toward more balanced economic ties, agreeing to hold a ministerial-level video conference in January 2027 and the next consultation meeting in March.

The outcomes underscore a shared recognition in Beijing and Brussels that trade disputes must be managed without derailing broader economic relations.

While the EU continues to raise concerns over trade imbalances and market access, China has emphasized dialogue and rules-based engagement.

The inclusion of export controls and WTO reform also reflects how bilateral economic ties are increasingly shaped by wider concerns over economic security and global trade governance.

The 16 outcomes mark progress in consultation, though their substantive impact remains to be seen.

The key challenge now is translating these understandings into concrete action.

Persistent differences over trade, industrial competition and regulatory approaches are unlikely to disappear through dialogue alone.

However, sustained high-level communication gives both sides room to prevent disputes from escalating and identify areas for practical cooperation.

At a time of growing protectionism and global economic uncertainty, maintaining stable China-EU trade relations serves the interests of both sides.

The Beijing talks represent a pragmatic step toward that goal, rather than a fundamental resolution of bilateral tensions.

What is the full picture of the outcomes achieved?

List of Outcomes and Common Understandings as issued by Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM) on October 9, 2026.

Trade and Investment Balance

1. The two sides will continue to explore the possibility of reducing tariffs on certain goods within the framework of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

2. The two sides will continue to strengthen communication and cooperation under the trade-monitoring mechanism and will make further active use of dialogue mechanisms to enhance mutual understanding.

3. Following intensive consultations, the two sides reached an understanding on trade in hybrid vehicles in a manner consistent with World Trade Organization rules.

4. The two sides recalled the guidance document on price undertakings in the electric-vehicle anti-subsidy case and will continue the related procedures concerning company price undertakings and the review in that case.

5. The two sides will continue their dialogue on market access for medical devices.

The European Union (EU) side welcomes the measures China has taken to expand imports of EU medical devices, including holding a procurement matchmaking event during the ninth China International Import Expo.

6. Based on risk assessments, China will expedite its work to recognize the regionalization principle for eligible EU member states. The two sides agreed to exchange methods and technologies for disease control and jointly explore ways to lift bluetongue-related restrictions on exports to China from the relevant member states.

7. The two sides agreed to continue technical exchanges on computer reservation systems. They also agreed to hold follow-up consultations on their respective regulatory frameworks for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, in order to further address existing and emerging market-access issues

8. The two sides agreed to hold a technical dialogue on the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR).

9. The EU side clarified that the EU’s financing guidance document for inverter projects does not target any particular country. The two sides will hold further consultations on the matter.

10. The two sides agreed to explore investment cooperation to promote each other’s economic development and to discuss future-oriented cooperation.

Export Controls

11. The two sides reiterated the need to further strengthen the China–EU export-control dialogue and welcomed stronger communication and exchanges on their respective export-control policies, including by issuing policy guidance, organizing government–business exchanges, and holding training sessions.

12. The two sides recognized the importance of enhancing the predictability and stability of global industrial and supply chains. China is willing to continue facilitating the approval of export licenses for rare earths and permanent magnets to the EU through the “green channel” mechanism.

The EU will continue, together with its member states, to facilitate the resolution of priority individual licensing cases concerning exports to China in the dual-use field.

13. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to addressing concerns in the export-control field and discussed the possibility of studying and introducing structural facilitation measures for compliant China–EU trade in dual-use items.

14. Within the framework of the export-control dialogue mechanism, the two sides reached an understanding that they will provide advance notification before making listings, increase the transparency of listing and delisting procedures, and support the initiation of delisting procedures within their respective legal frameworks.

Intellectual Property

15. China and the EU have begun addressing systemic intellectual-property issues and have made progress.

The two sides agreed to continue cooperating to resolve the relevant issues and to set interim targets, focusing on effective and fair intellectual-property protection and enforcement, as well as greater transparency and predictability. They agreed to monitor progress through the China–EU Intellectual Property Working Group.

World Trade Organization Reform

16. Both sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral communication and cooperation on World Trade Organization reform in an open and constructive manner. Both sides are committed to participating in WTO reform and agreed to discuss all relevant issues with a view to achieving substantive progress.