Heat wave fuels Chinese AC boom as EU and China press for trade balance

Europe’s record heat wave is driving a surge in imports of Chinese-made air conditioners, underscoring Brussels’ challenge in closing the trade gap with Beijing. The EU and China issued a rare joint statement to set up a bilateral working group to monitor trade flows and deliver tangible results on imbalances, export controls, and IP by October, while signaling Beijing may retaliate against new curbs. The surge in demand—led by Chinese models such as Midea’s PortaSplit—highlights Europe’s dependence on affordable Chinese tech and the broader difficulty of protecting domestic industry while meeting consumer needs.