EU trade chief set to host China's commerce minister on June 29

BRUSSELS — Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao will visit Brussels on June 29 for a meeting with European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, a European Commission spokesperson said on Monday.

The visit comes as European Union leaders last week instructed the European Commission, which oversees the bloc’s trade policy, to deliver concrete results from ongoing dialogue with major trading partners, including China. EU leaders also called on the Commission to ensure the bloc has all necessary trade tools to defend its economic interests.

The Commission is also preparing to propose legislation that would require EU companies to diversify their sources of key supplies, as part of broader efforts to reduce supply chain risks and economic dependence on single markets.

Trade between China and the European Union continues to widen in China’s favor. China’s goods trade surplus with the EU reached €360.6 billion in 2025, a 15% increase from 2024. The surplus has expanded by 10% in the first four months of this year, driven by higher Chinese exports to the EU and lower imports from the bloc.

Beijing has also strengthened its control over critical mineral processing, including imposing export restrictions on rare earths in April 2025. The move, seen as a response to U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump, has also affected European companies that rely on these materials for manufacturing and technology supply chains. -Reporting by Philip BlenkinsopEditing by Tomasz Janowski/Reuters