ICES Webinar | EU-China Trade Negotiations and Future Outlook

Hosted by the Institute of China-Europe Studies (ICES)

Source: ICES

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 14:00–15:00 CET, 21:00–22:00 BJT

Speakers:

• Oliver Radtke, Research Fellow, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Vienna
• ZHOU Mi, Senior Researcher, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation – the think tank under the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) of the People's Republic of China.

The webinar will be moderated by Daniel Balazs, Senior Research Analyst at ICES

Background:

The second meeting of EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations (TIC2) yielded several key agreements. Notably, the two sides committed to managing the growth of China’s hybrid vehicle exports to the EU, and Beijing vowed to continue fast-tracking administrative procedures for rare earth exports to Europe. Tariff liberalisation for European exports to China, spanning car parts, footwear, olive oil, and ice cream, are projected to save at least €225 million in duties, according to the European Commission.

While these outcomes steer both sides clear of an immediate trade war, they are far from solving all the EU-China trade and investment disputes and instead mark the beginning of a long, complex negotiation process that may well involve twists and turns. This webinar explores what these dynamics mean for the future of EU-China consultations and the broader trade relationship.

Registration link: