{"id":2193163,"date":"2026-10-12T16:22:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T13:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2193163"},"modified":"2026-10-12T16:22:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T13:22:22","slug":"eu-china-trade-deal-raises-fears-brussels-will-go-soft-on-beijing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2193163","title":{"rendered":"EU-China trade deal raises fears Brussels will go soft on Beijing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/15\/61\/1200x675_cmsv2_77d833d6-8c36-57a2-b13b-7da1e59ce25b-9941561.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2932406-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2932406\" data-cid=\"9948979\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2932406-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/64\/28\/189x106_cmsv2_bb572708-9a38-59d6-b93f-ecdb06b80c91-9946428.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"King Felipe VI oversees the parade alongside Princess Leonor\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ceuta troops absent as Spain holds National Day parade in Madrid\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932907-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2932907\" data-cid=\"9948538\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2932907-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/83\/30\/189x106_cmsv2_3c05c45d-9895-5043-a155-504b4e30d8e9-9948330.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Work begins on Portugal&apos;s high-speed rail line\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Portugal begins high-speed rail construction between Lisbon and Porto\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2933108-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2933108\" data-cid=\"9949432\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2933108-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/94\/32\/189x106_cmsv2_255faccb-724f-5cbe-a17b-5d16ddab8065-9949432.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is seen off the shore of the Faliro suburb, in Athens, Greece, Thursday, March 24, 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French navy intercepts and boards &#8216;shadow fleet&#8217; ship, Macron says\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932991-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2932991\" data-cid=\"9949418\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2932991-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/88\/64\/189x106_cmsv2_84994b24-42b5-5074-96d9-a38ff26a435f-9948864.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Citro\u00ebn\u2019s new 2CV Concept, inspired by its iconic ancestor.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Citro\u00ebn&#8217;s iconic 2CV returns as an all-electric model\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932406-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2932406\" data-cid=\"9948979\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2932406-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/64\/28\/189x106_cmsv2_bb572708-9a38-59d6-b93f-ecdb06b80c91-9946428.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"King Felipe VI oversees the parade alongside Princess Leonor\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ceuta troops absent as Spain holds National Day parade in Madrid\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932907-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2932907\" data-cid=\"9948538\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2932907-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/83\/30\/189x106_cmsv2_3c05c45d-9895-5043-a155-504b4e30d8e9-9948330.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Work begins on Portugal&apos;s high-speed rail line\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Portugal begins high-speed rail construction between Lisbon and Porto\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2933108-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2933108\" data-cid=\"9949432\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2933108-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/94\/32\/189x106_cmsv2_255faccb-724f-5cbe-a17b-5d16ddab8065-9949432.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is seen off the shore of the Faliro suburb, in Athens, Greece, Thursday, March 24, 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French navy intercepts and boards &#8216;shadow fleet&#8217; ship, Macron says\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932991-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2932991\" data-cid=\"9949418\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2932991-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/88\/64\/189x106_cmsv2_84994b24-42b5-5074-96d9-a38ff26a435f-9948864.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Citro\u00ebn\u2019s new 2CV Concept, inspired by its iconic ancestor.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Citro\u00ebn&#8217;s iconic 2CV returns as an all-electric model\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            EU-China trade deal raises fears Brussels will go soft on Beijing<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/15\/61\/1536x864_cmsv2_77d833d6-8c36-57a2-b13b-7da1e59ce25b-9941561.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Brussels and Beijing reached a deal last Friday to curb Chinese car imports to the EU.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Brussels and Beijing reached a deal last Friday to curb Chinese car imports to the EU.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspPeggy Corlin&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbspLuca Bertuzzi\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1791822142\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2026-10-12 18:22:22 +02:00\">12\/10\/2026 &#8211; 18:22 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"18:23\">18:23<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div 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width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        The EU&#8217;s new trade deal with China has eased fears of an escalating trade war, but it could also weaken the political momentum behind Brussels&#8217; plans to take a tougher stance against Beijing&#8217;s economic practices.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>After four months of negotiations, Brussels and Beijing struck a deal on Friday under which China agreed to curb its hybrid car exports to the EU and ease restrictions on rare earths licensing.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The European Commission has framed the agreement as the first phase of talks launched in June to rebalance trade relations. The EU runs a trade deficit of more than \u20ac1 billion a day with China, whose exports are putting growing pressure on European industry.<\/p>\n<p>The deal comes just a week after French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a new EU trade defence instrument to counter foreign economic distortions, potentially including measures to restrict access to the European market. <\/p>\n<p>But with EU leaders due to discuss China at this week&#8217;s summit, there are concerns in Brussels that the agreement could take the urgency out of efforts to develop tougher trade measures.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is quite a good deal, but I am afraid it might create relaxation at the European Council,\u201d an EU official told Euronews, speaking anonymously. \u201cIf anything, the agreement shows that, when the EU flexes its muscles, it has an effect.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Trade war averted. For now.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Friday&#8217;s agreement appears to have shifted the debate among member states, easing the immediate threat of an escalating trade war with Beijing.<\/p>\n<p>That risk had grown after the joint letter from Paris and Berlin signalled an unusual degree of alignment between the EU&#8217;s two largest economies on the need to confront China&#8217;s trade practices \u2013 a position that would have been difficult to imagine just months ago.<\/p>\n<p>Spain, which like Germany has traditionally favoured a more conciliatory approach towards Beijing, faces snap elections in November.<\/p>\n<p>The agreement also offers a reprieve for Merz and Germany&#8217;s car industry, which has been struggling with fierce competition from Chinese manufacturers.<\/p>\n<p>Under the deal, the EU will introduce country-specific quotas allowing 350,000 Chinese hybrid cars onto the European market annually over four years, with a fixed annual adjustment rate of 6%.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis will cut by more than half the current exports to the EU, which we estimate are likely to reach up to 800,000 units in 2026,\u201d a second EU official said.<\/p>\n<p>According to Alicia Garc\u00eda-Herrero, an expert at Bruegel, a Brussels-based think tank, Merz is in a weak position to reject the agreement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe will drag his feet when it comes to new measures because Germany will prefer to cash in this goody as the deal will reduce competition.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u201cNot the end of the story\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The agreement could provide a model for combining trade pressure with diplomacy, with China making concessions before Brussels imposed safeguards it was already preparing.<\/p>\n<p>Chinese car exports to the EU are worth around \u20ac15bn, small next to the EU\u2019s \u20ac360bn bilateral trade deficit with China.<\/p>\n<p>The EU also secured tariff liberalisation for car parts, footwear, ice cream and olive oil, saving at least \u20ac225 million in duties, according to the Commission. While welcome, those concessions will do little to close the wider trade gap.<\/p>\n<p>EU trade chief Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d is due to hold a video call with his Chinese counterpart in January, followed by another round of political talks in March.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLast week\u2019s deal shows that the Chinese are now beginning to take Europe seriously and realising that there\u2019s a serious political issue, not just an economic issue,\u201d Peter Chase of the German Marshall Fund told Euronews.<\/p>\n<p>Even if EU leaders deem the deal good enough for now, all eyes are on the next chapter. \u201cIt\u2019s not the end of the story,\u201d an EU diplomat said. Some fear member states may now lower their guard.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Trade defence<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Commission promised EU ambassadors on Sunday that it would present proposals for the tool requested by Macron and Merz, to react systematically to market distortions, before the traditional December EU summit.<\/p>\n<p>The proposed mechanism was already under consideration as part of a broader overhaul of the EU&#8217;s trade defence toolkit.<\/p>\n<p>Other measures under discussion include a diversification instrument to help companies reduce their dependence on single suppliers of strategic products, and a solidarity mechanism to support member states facing trade retaliation.<\/p>\n<p>Yet some fear that, having secured concessions, member states may back down and withhold the strong political mandate needed to keep working on these tools.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Chinese well understood the message. They want to work with us on this. But because it showed it worked, we need to continue to keep the guns on the table,\u201d the first EU official said.<\/p>\n<p>Others within the Commission argue that Brussels already has considerable powers at its disposal, including the anti-coercion instrument, which has yet to be used, as well as anti-dumping measures and investment screening.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a lot of instruments,\u201d the second EU official said. \u201cBut as always, we can do more, and we can be better. And I think that is the discussion that will take place this week.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  EU and China clinch deal over cars after heated trade talks as Brussels pushes to rebalance trade<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  EU-China talks enter critical phase as trade chief \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d touches down in Beijing<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  EU-China trade tensions: Five things to know as Brussels and Beijing face crunch talks<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  EU Policy<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  trade<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  China<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Friedrich Merz<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Emmanuel Macron<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" 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class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/90\/36\/320x180_cmsv2_69517617-eb69-5c47-a4f0-d87c984ab8c2-9949036.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz lead the &quot;Coalition of the Willing&quot;.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Blindsided again by Trump, Europe scrambles to rally behind Ukraine<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2933108-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2933108\" data-cid=\"9949432\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2933108-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/94\/32\/320x180_cmsv2_255faccb-724f-5cbe-a17b-5d16ddab8065-9949432.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is seen off the shore of the Faliro suburb, in Athens, Greece, Thursday, March 24, 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French navy intercepts and boards &#8216;shadow fleet&#8217; ship, Macron says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2932987-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2932987\" data-cid=\"9948859\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2932987-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" 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alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2933040-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2933040\" data-cid=\"9949036\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2933040-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/90\/36\/320x180_cmsv2_69517617-eb69-5c47-a4f0-d87c984ab8c2-9949036.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz lead the &quot;Coalition of the Willing&quot;.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Blindsided again by Trump, Europe scrambles to rally behind Ukraine<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2933108-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object 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src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/89\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_35c1cfec-62dc-5bab-8d8c-69bb0c0cf712-9948933.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, left, speaks with Italy&apos;s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto during a meeting of European Union defense ministers.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU struggles to ramp up Red Sea mission as Houthis escalate attacks<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932839-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2932839\" data-cid=\"9948081\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Oil prices drop as stocks rise after Trump touts &#8216;energy ceasefire&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932968-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2932968\" data-cid=\"9948719\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ukrainian strikes on data centres and Russian bot activity in freefall<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932072-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2932072\" data-cid=\"9947626\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Hochvogel mountain at risk of major rockslide<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932987-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2932987\" data-cid=\"9948859\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ukraine passes minority rights law to end Hungary\u2019s EU veto<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932900-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2932900\" data-cid=\"9948287\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU decries Trump-Putin diesel deal, insists sanctions will continue<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">After four months of negotiations, Brussels and Beijing struck a deal on Friday under which China agreed to curb its hybrid car exports to the EU and ease restrictions on rare earths licensing.The European Commission has framed the agreement as the first phase of talks launched in June to rebalance trade relations. The EU runs a trade deficit of more than \u20ac1 billion a day with China, whose exports are putting growing pressure on European industry.The deal comes just a week after French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a new EU trade defence instrument to counter foreign economic distortions, potentially including measures to restrict access to the European market.But with EU leaders due to discuss China at this week&#8217;s summit, there are concerns in Brussels that the agreement could take the urgency out of efforts to develop tougher trade measures.\u201cIt is quite a good deal, but I am afraid it might create relaxation at the European Council,\u201d an EU official told Euronews, speaking anonymously. \u201cIf anything, the agreement shows that, when the EU flexes its muscles, it has an effect.\u201dTrade war averted. For now.Friday&#8217;s agreement appears to have shifted the debate among member states, easing the immediate threat of an escalating trade war with Beijing.That risk had grown after the joint letter from Paris and Berlin signalled an unusual degree of alignment between the EU&#8217;s two largest economies on the need to confront China&#8217;s trade practices \u2013 a position that would have been difficult to imagine just months ago.Spain, which like Germany has traditionally favoured a more conciliatory approach towards Beijing, faces snap elections in November.The agreement also offers a reprieve for Merz and Germany&#8217;s car industry, which has been struggling with fierce competition from Chinese manufacturers.Under the deal, the EU will introduce country-specific quotas allowing 350,000 Chinese hybrid cars onto the European market annually over four years, with a fixed annual adjustment rate of 6%.\u201cThis will cut by more than half the current exports to the EU, which we estimate are likely to reach up to 800,000 units in 2026,\u201d a second EU official said.According to Alicia Garc\u00eda-Herrero, an expert at Bruegel, a Brussels-based think tank, \u00a0Merz is in a weak position to reject the agreement.\u201cHe will drag his feet when it comes to new measures because Germany will prefer to cash in this goody as the deal will reduce competition.\u201d\u201cNot the end of the story\u201dThe agreement could provide a model for combining trade pressure with diplomacy, with China making concessions before Brussels imposed safeguards it was already preparing.Chinese car exports to the EU are worth around \u20ac15bn, small next to the EU\u2019s \u20ac360bn bilateral trade deficit with China.The EU also secured tariff liberalisation for car parts, footwear, ice cream and olive oil, saving at least \u20ac225 million in duties, according to the Commission. While welcome, those concessions will do little to close the wider trade gap.EU trade chief Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d is due to hold a video call with his Chinese counterpart in January, followed by another round of political talks in March.\u201cLast week\u2019s deal shows that the Chinese are now beginning to take Europe seriously and realising that there\u2019s a serious political issue, not just an economic issue,\u201d Peter Chase of the German Marshall Fund told Euronews.Even if EU leaders deem the deal good enough for now, all eyes are on the next chapter. \u201cIt\u2019s not the end of the story,\u201d an EU diplomat said. Some fear member states may now lower their guard.Trade defenceThe Commission promised EU ambassadors on Sunday that it would present proposals for the tool requested by Macron and Merz, to react systematically to market distortions, before the traditional December EU summit.The proposed mechanism was already under consideration as part of a broader overhaul of the EU&#8217;s trade defence toolkit.Other measures under discussion include a diversification instrument to help companies reduce their dependence on single suppliers of strategic products, and a solidarity mechanism to support member states facing trade retaliation.Yet some fear that, having secured concessions, member states may back down and withhold the strong political mandate needed to keep working on these tools.\u201cThe Chinese well understood the message. They want to work with us on this. But because it showed it worked, we need to continue to keep the guns on the table,\u201d the first EU official said.Others within the Commission argue that Brussels already has considerable powers at its disposal, including the anti-coercion instrument, which has yet to be used, as well as anti-dumping measures and investment screening.\u201cWe have a lot of instruments,\u201d the second EU official said. \u201cBut as always, we can do more, and we can be better. And I think that is the discussion that will take place this week.\u201d<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/10\/12\/eu-china-trade-deal-raises-fears-brussels-will-go-soft-on-beijing&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/15\/61\/1200x675_cmsv2_77d833d6-8c36-57a2-b13b-7da1e59ce25b-9941561.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Ceuta troops absent as Spain holds National Day parade in Madrid Europe News Portugal begins high-speed rail construction between Lisbon and Porto Europe News French navy intercepts and boards &#8216;shadow fleet&#8217; ship, Macron says Economy Citro\u00ebn&#8217;s iconic 2CV returns as an all-electric model Europe News Ceuta troops absent as Spain [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2193163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2193163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2193163"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2193163\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2193163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2193163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2193163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}