EU-China Trade Talks Stall Over Market Access Demands

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič says negotiations with China remain difficult and have not yet yielded results, emphasizing that a deal is needed to protect European jobs and social cohesion. The comments suggest growing frustration within the Commission as trade tensions persist between Brussels and Beijing over market access and industrial competition.

Byte's take

Brussels is learning what Beijing already knows: leverage beats goodwill in trade talks. Šefčovič's stalled negotiations expose the EU's weakness in forcing market access concessions from China without meaningful tariff threats or unified member-state backing.