EU Refuses Economic Meeting with China over Trade Progress

The European Union has declined to hold the EU-China High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue ahead of the leaders' summit scheduled for July 24-25 in China, citing a lack of progress on ongoing trade disputes. This refusal underscores persistent tensions between the two economic powers despite China's efforts to improve relations. The economic dialogue is traditionally seen as preparatory groundwork for the summit, but EU officials have opted out, demanding meaningful agreements before participating. Key issues include disputes over tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, anti-dumping duties on EU products, and recent rare earth export restrictions by China. Additionally, the EU's decision comes amid symbolic diplomatic signals, such as China sending Premier Li Qiang instead of President Xi Jinping to the summit, which some view as a slight. This development marks a significant moment in EU-China relations, highlighting strategic maneuvering amid complex geopolitical and economic challenges.