EU's Trade Deficit With China Surged 15% in 2025, Triggering Formal Talks

The EU's goods trade surplus deficit with China reached €360.6 billion in 2025, up 15% from 2024, according to Reuters. The imbalance prompted the EU trade chief to meet China's commerce minister on June 29, 2026, to launch three months of structured dialogue. The widening gap—despite simultaneous duties and diversification mandates—reflects structural economic asymmetries that bilateral negotiation may struggle to reshape.