Published on
01/07/2026 - 10:45 GMT+2
The European Union is heading into a “phase of conflict” with Beijing unless it reaches a deal by the autumn to curb its widening trade deficit, European People's Party chairman Manfred Weber has told Euronews' flagship morning programme, Europe Today.
The EU's trade chief, Maroš Šefčovič, said on Monday that Brussels aims to reach an agreement with China by October to address trade imbalances, amid growing concern that Chinese industrial overcapacity is undercutting Europe's already struggling industries. Brussels is calling for tangible results as it readies new defence tools.
"We have to fundamentally change of our approach to China," he told Euronews. "We need a new level playing field where we clarify that subsidies cannot be part of a free market economy."
