Beijing Threatens Retaliation as EU Weighs Section 301-Style Trade Barriers
China’s commerce ministry warned the European Union it will respond firmly if Brussels introduces restrictions on Chinese businesses or products. This warning precedes high-level talks in Beijing next week, where EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic seeks concrete results to reduce the bloc’s record trade deficit with China by October. European officials are reportedly finalizing a joint paper from Germany and France that calls for a new tool to cut off Chinese access to the EU market within 24 hours, mirroring U.S. Section 301 authorities. Beijing argues such unilateral measures violate World Trade Organization rules and undermine mutual trust, while European leaders face pressure to address a trade imbalance that recently surpassed the U.S. deficit.