China Threatens Retaliation Over New EU Trade Curbs After May 29 Policy Talks
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 30
China Threatens Retaliation Over New EU Trade Curbs After May 29 Policy Talks
1 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 30
China's Commerce Ministry said Saturday it would take “resolute” countermeasures if the EU introduces new trade instruments and what Beijing called discriminatory restrictions.
The warning followed a May 29 European Commission discussion on China policy, which raised the prospect of fresh restrictive trade measures from Brussels.
Beijing said it would adopt effective steps to safeguard its own interests if the EU moves ahead, signaling a sharper trade confrontation with Europe.
With Europe divided over confronting Beijing, could its new trade plan end up hurting its own economy more?
As China vows retaliation, will the EU's push against cheap imports derail its own green energy transition?
EU Slashes Chinese Steel Imports by 47% Amid Record Trade Imbalance: The 2026 EU-China Economic Standoff
Overview
In May 2026, the European Union escalated efforts to curb imports from China, aiming to reduce its reliance on Chinese inputs even as some member states, like Germany and Spain, remain highly dependent. The EU's drastic 47% cut in steel imports was a direct response to what it sees as an over-supply from China, which is believed to undermine European competitiveness. This move follows a record trade imbalance driven by a surge in Chinese electric vehicle imports. In response, China issued stern warnings and threatened countermeasures, setting the stage for a tense standoff and raising the risk of a broader trade conflict.