China and the European Union Hold the 13th Round of High-level Strategic Dialogue (EEAS , July 2, 2025; Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs , July 3, 2025)

In the beginning of July, the 13th round of China–EU High-level Strategic Dialogue took place in Brussels. Wang Yi and Kaja Kallas highlighted the current preparations for the upcoming summit , the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, their hope to further develop bilateral relations and both sides' commitment to multilateralism.

China retaliates against EU ban with import restrictions on medical devices

(Reuters, July 7, 2025)

Reacting to European policies, the Chinese finance ministry announced that it would restrict government purchases of medical devices from the EU that exceed 45 million yuan, equivalent to around 5.4 million euros.

China offers tax refund to French cognac makers amid EU brandy anti-dumping probe: source

(South China Morning Post, July 1, 2025)

China has promised significant tax refunds to French cognac producers if they agree to cooperate with its anti-dumping investigation into EU brandy sold in China.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever Meets with Wang Yi

(Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, July 1, 2025)

The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in Brussels. They stressed the long history of friendly exchanges that should be strengthened to enhance trust in the current geopolitical environment.

‘China is not the US’: Europe has challenges but none come from Beijing, Wang Yi tells EU

(South China Morning Post, July 3, 2025)

During a meeting with EU representatives in Brussels, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the EU to “truly foster a rational understanding” of China. Despite the differences, bilateral relations should not be grounded in opposition and confrontation. Further, he stated that the "US should not be used as a mirror for China."

China tells EU it can’t accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine, official says

(CNN, July 4, 2025)

Due to national interests, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told a top EU diplomat that Beijing cannot accept Russia losing the war against Ukraine.

EU and China stand-off over climate action before Xi and von der Leyen meet

(Financial Times, July 7, 2025)

At the leaders' summit, the EU was holding back on signing a joint declaration on climate action with China despite multiple requests from the Chinese side.

Europe should reduce US and China ‘dual dependencies’, Macron warns

(The Guardian, July 8, 2025)

On his state trip, the French President Emmanuel Macron warned that European countries to reduce their “dual dependencies” on the US and China by de-risking, urging an empowered Europe.

Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP plenary joint debate on EU-China relations

(European Commission, July 8, 2025)

At a joint debate on EU-China relations at the European Parliament, President Ursula von der Leyen gave a speech reflecting on half a century of diplomatic relations. She underlined the commitment to results-oriented engagement with China, trade issues, the importance of de-risking and the value of enhanced communication.

China urges EU to pursue more positive, pragmatic policy toward China

(Xinhua, July 9, 2025)

The Chinese foreign ministry urges the EU to "rebalance its mindset" on the matter of bilateral trade ties. Reacting to Ursula von der Leyen's comment, the spokesperson emphasised that instead of rebalancing economic and trade relations, the EU should reconsider its mentality.

Red Sea laser row rumbles on as China insists its warship did not target German plane

(South China Morning Post, July 10, 2025)

The Chinese defence ministry called the German accusations that a PLA warship pointed a laser at a German plane in the Red Sea "inconsistent with the facts."

EU lawmakers rebuke China over rare earth curbs before summit

(Reuters, July 10, 2025)

The European Parliament condemned Chinese export restrictions on rare earths, arguing that these actions are unjustified and coercive, particularly given China's "quasi-monopolistic position." The voted motion urges China to lift the restrictions, insisting that the EU must reject any Chinese attempts to use the export restrictions as a means of forcing concessions. China's Mission to the EU issued a statement, asking the EU side to stop politicising trade and economic issues.

Executive Vice-President Ribera and Commissioners Hoekstra, Jørgensen and Roswall participate in the EU-China High-Level Climate and Environment & Energy Dialogues

(European Commission Directorate-General for Energy, July 11, 2025)

Executive Vice-President Ribera and Commissioners Wopke Hoekstra, Dan Jørgensen and Jessika Roswall went to Beijing to participate in the 6th EU-China High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue, enhancing bilateral cooperation between the EU and China on domestic and international policies.

European Union on the ropes as Donald Trump and China turn the screws

(South China Morning Post, July 14, 2025)

The last US tariff announcement from US President Trump and the concouter over Russia with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi added to the low expectations ahead of the summit in Beijing. Thus, the EU is currently facing a difficult situation between the US and China.

Commission imposes measures on multilayered wood flooring from China

(Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, July 14, 2025)

The European Commission imposed anti-dumping duties of 21.3% to 36.1% on imports of multilayered wood flooring originating in China. This measure was motivated by the protection of EU producers from unfair trading practices.

EU climate VP seeks 'fair competition' with China on green energy

(France24, July 14, 2025)

The EU Vice President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, told AFP that the EU is seeking fair competition with China instead of engaging in protectionism or a race leading to lower standards.

Chinese premier urges BRICS to lead global governance reform

(CGTN, July 7, 2025)

During the 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil, Chinese Premier Li Qiang stated that the BRICS countries should aim to become the vanguard in advancing global governance reform. He called on the bloc to safeguard world peace and promote the peaceful settlement of disputes in the current challenging international environment.

Joint Statement from the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington

(US Department of State, July 1, 2025)

The Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington resulted in a statement reaffirming the US', Australian, Indian and Japanese commitments to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The parties aim to advance peace, security, prosperity and regional cooperation.

China, ASEAN to submit upgraded free trade deal to leaders in October, says China's foreign minister

(Reuters, July 12, 2025)

After negotiations on the 3.0 version of the free trade zone were completed in May, China and ASEAN agreed to submit a pact on upgrading their free trade areas to their leaders for approval in October. A 5-year action plan specifies the fields of collaboration.

Last gasp: Securing Europe’s wind industry from dependence on China

(European Council on Foreign Relations, July 1, 2025)

Senior researchers Luke Patey and Byford Tsang look into European wind turbine manufacturing in the context of rising Chinese competition. European wind industry is portrayed as a possible exception to great dependencies on Chinese renewable technology, if policymakers take more decisive action to ensure fair competition, ensure long-term demand and work with like-minded partners.

Disentangling Global Gateway: from Team Europe to the world

(CEPS, July 2, 2025)

For the latest CEPS publication, Stefania Benaglia and Ceren Ergenc demonstrate that the Global Gateway (GGI) is attempting to facilitate the EU's shift towards strategic investments and competitiveness, while facing limitations in terms of political, financial, and perceptional aspects. The publication examines the GGI's financial and trade environment, as well as its projects for the green and digital transitions.

Lasting Peace in Ukraine and the Rebuild of European Security Architecture - Observations and Reflections from Chinese Scholars

(Center of the European Union and Regional Development Studies at BFSU, July 4, 2025)

The Beijing Foreign Studies University's Center of the European Union and Regional Development Studies released the first report discussing the war in Ukraine from the perspective of Chinese scholars. Inspired by a symposium held in Beijing on June 30, this collection of contributions examines questions of security, peace and international order surrounding the war in Ukraine.

There’s been a shift in US-China tech competition – and it’s not good news for the rest of the world

(MERICS, July 7, 2025)

MERICS analysts Rebecca Arcesati and Antonia Hmaidi analyse how US efforts to restrict AI lead to Chinese assertiveness and Chinese chipmakers looking into foreign markets, as well as their own extra-territorial rule-making.

On July 2, the European (EPC) hosted an in-person policy brief "Navigating new waters: Commissioner Kadis on the European Ocean Pact." During this event, EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis gave a presentation on the Pact and the 3rd UN Ocean Conference held in France. He emphasised that the coherent implementation of the pact is crucial to effective ocean governance in Europe. Answering a question on deep-sea mining, the Commissioner stated that the EU adheres to the precautionary approach and is establishing an international alliance for this purpose.

The CEPS event "Europe in Trump’s world: EU foreign and security policy in a time of systemic crisis" on July 2 brought together scholars to examine European crisis management in the context of multipolar competition. When discussing policies and EU–US relations, Europe was portrayed as a relational, context-dependent power.

On July 8, the Bruegel panel on "Autonomy in orbit: Europe’s place in the new space economy" presented Bruegel's new Blueprint "Relaunching Europe's space economy" and discussed the key trends for (the European) space economy, including space-defense synergies, technological shifts, strategic importance, public–private interplay and global competition.