Brussels is turning up the pressure on Beijing. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has warned that China must show "concrete results" by October or risk facing "harsher measures" from the bloc. The warning comes as the European Union seeks to rein in a record trade surplus that has left all 27 member states running deficits with China.
In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Šefčovič described the ongoing negotiations as "super political," stressing that European leaders are looking for clear pledges from Beijing. The stakes, he said, go beyond trade figures and touch the future of European industry.
October deadline looms
The next two weeks are set to be crucial. A video call between Šefčovič and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao, is planned for mid-September, as both sides work towards the October deadline. Šefčovič is also scheduled to travel to China in October, ahead of an EU leaders' summit in Brussels where the issue is expected to be high on the agenda.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already made clear that dialogue must yield results. Speaking at a business forum in France earlier this week, she said that talks only work if they bring tangible outcomes. If they do not, the EU could resort to defensive instruments.
Šefčovič declined to specify what retaliatory measures might look like, but he said Brussels is working on a "diversification instrument" designed with China in mind. He also noted that the EU is now far more united in its objectives for the negotiations.
"They want to see the direction of travel. They want to even have a concept for the solution of this issue, a pilot scheme," Šefčovič said. "I'm trying to do it through these negotiations, but they have to bring us very concrete results. Otherwise, of course, there will be a strong political movement to push for, I would say, harsher measures."
The sense of urgency is palpable. A group of EU officials was in Beijing in recent days to push forward the talks, and they are expected to return to Europe on Thursday for a debrief. Meanwhile, the Commission has launched several probes into Chinese products over the summer over alleged unfair trade practices, and von der Leyen said the investigations were being stepped up "significantly."
Šefčovič acknowledged that securing better access for European companies in China will not happen overnight. But he stressed that an outline of a deal is needed by October to move into a second phase of implementation talks.
"It's an issue which would require clearly more time than until October," he said. "But what I think it's very important for us to have by October [is] some kind of proof of concept."
EU leaders expect the Commission to bring solutions to rebalance the trade relationship, particularly in areas considered "sensitive," such as cars, medical devices, and agri-food products. The challenge is immense, but the message from Brussels is clear: Beijing must act, or face the consequences.
This is not just about trade deficits. It is about the future of European industry and the bloc's ability to protect its strategic interests. As the October deadline approaches, all eyes will be on the negotiations and whether China is willing to deliver the concrete results that Europe demands.
