The first meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism was held and a joint statement was issued.

Reporters learned from the Ministry of Commerce on the 30th that on June 29, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and European Commission Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Sefcovic held the first meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism in Brussels and issued a joint statement.

As key trading partners, China and the EU agree that the main purpose of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism is to strengthen ministerial-level trade and investment policy dialogue to stabilize bilateral relations and make them more balanced.

At the first meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism, both sides pointed out the importance of properly handling the challenges affecting bilateral economic and trade relations and agreed to seek practical solutions. The China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism initially consists of four working sections: trade and investment balance, export control, intellectual property rights, and WTO reform.

Minister Wang Wentao and Commissioner Sevcovich authorized officials to maintain communication on the four work sections and agreed to hold another ministerial meeting in the autumn of 2026.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to establish a joint monitoring mechanism to exchange trade data, monitor trade flows and carry out relevant technical work to improve transparency, enhance mutual trust, and manage trade frictions.

Both sides also agreed that expanding market access would help balance trade relations. The two sides discussed possible tariff or non-tariff measures for this purpose, exchanged a list of market access issues, and agreed to continue consultations under the trade and investment balance work section with a view to making progress on specific issues.

The two sides noted that the China-EU export control dialogue has achieved positive results around rare earths and other key raw materials and minerals, and are willing to strengthen dialogue in this field. The parties discussed the value of continuing to exchange information on their respective regulatory frameworks and licensing policies. Both sides recognized that export control dialogue should be strengthened and agreed to further take facilitative measures to maintain the stability of the global production and supply chain.

China and the EU emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation in the WTO, promote substantive progress in WTO reform, and improve the authority and effectiveness of the WTO. Both sides agreed to further strengthen communication and cooperation in the WTO.

Both sides recognized that the China-EU Intellectual Property Working Group's constructive exchanges are the main channel for China-EU discussions on the technical aspects of intellectual property. They discussed and agreed to resolve a series of systemic intellectual property issues and improve the efficiency, fairness and transparency of intellectual property protection and enforcement.