The world was closely watching the high-stakes US-China summit in Washington from September 23 – 25, which resulted in the US and China agreeing, among other things, to extend their trade truce by two months. Now, the spotlight has shifted to Beijing, as the EU and China enter the final stretch ahead of a decisive round of trade talks seeking to remedy export/import imbalances. On October 8 and 9, trade negotiators from both sides will gather in Beijing for the second meeting of the newly established EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations Mechanism (TIC).
The TIC was launched in June this year, marking a significant step for both sides in restoring an institutional channel for dialogue on trade and investment after a period of relatively limited engagement. The forthcoming meeting is therefore more than a routine round of talks. It will be the first real test facing the new TIC: whether it is useful in stabilising EU-China relations and pulling the two back from the brink of a looming trade war. It is far too early to tell. What is already clear, however, is that some of the most difficult and pressing issues are on the negotiating table.
