At the “Second EU–China Relations Forum,” hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to China on May 12, European and Chinese participants openly clashed over trade imbalances, market access, and “protectionism,” highlighting the increasingly strained state of EU–China economic relations.
During a panel discussion on EU–China trade ties, Jens Eskelund, President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, criticized China for heavily exporting goods to Europe while simultaneously accusing the EU of protectionism. He described the relationship as “a 400-meter-long container ship” arriving in Europe fully loaded but returning “almost empty,” underscoring European concerns over unequal trade flows and limited reciprocity.
Jian Junbo of the Fudan University Center for China-Europe Relations responded that EU “decoupling” policies were regrettable and called on both sides to jointly oppose protectionism.
Tensions escalated further when Jorge Toledo, the European Union’s Ambassador to China, stated that the EU’s proposed Industrial Acceleration Act had faced widespread criticism from Chinese media and officials. A Chinese participant then accused Toledo of “bullying.” Spanish economist Alicia Garcia-Herrero defended the ambassador, arguing that it was inappropriate to accuse the EU envoy of bullying at a conference organized by the EU itself.
Source: Epoch Times, May 20, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/5/19/n14768745.htm