Xi urges EU to join forces and oppose unilateral acts

hinais looking to mend astrained trading relationship with the European Union, the last open major market for its products, to weather a trade war with the United States.

- Laurie Chen

But diplomats and analysts say breaking a prolonged stalemate won't be easy, The EU and other major trading partners argue that Chinese overinvestment in manufacturing is flooding the world with goods, while Beijing accuses the EU of being protectionist. But since US President Donald Trump's return to the White House, a procession of European officials and lawmakers have made their way to Beijing, capped off with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez meeting Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping on Friday.

Xi, in his first public comments since Trump launched his tariff offensive, appealed directly to the EU by telling Sanchez that China and his bloc should join forces to defend globalisation and oppose “unilateral acts of bullying”. Both sides have quietly intensified coordination, with EU officials agreeing to monitor trade diversions from US tariffs, a potential strain on the relationship, in two separate calls with Chinese counterparts on Tuesday.

China and the EU also established several economic working groups after EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic's visit late March, including on EV supply