EU lawmakers visit China for first time in eight years to tackle trade tensions

After eight years of silence, EU lawmakers return to China—but will talks on digital trade and market access ease rising tensions? The stakes are high for European businesses.

, and Administrator

2026 April 8 . 5:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows a graph on a white background with text that reads "U.S. Trade in Goods with... — The image shows a graph on a white background with text that reads "U.S. Trade in Goods with China". The graph displays the number of US trade in goods with China over a period of time, with the x-axis representing the years and the y-axis indicating the amount of trade. The graph is divided into two sections, one for imports and one for exports, and each section is further divided into different colors, indicating the different levels of trade between the two countries.

EU lawmakers visit China for first time in eight years to tackle trade tensions

A nine-member European Parliament delegation will travel to China this week for the first such visit in eight years. Led by Anna Cavazzini, chair of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee, the group will focus on digital trade, market access and fair competition between the EU and China. The delegation's itinerary includes stops in Beijing and Shanghai. In the capital, lawmakers will meet Chinese officials and visit the EU Chamber of Commerce to discuss barriers faced by European businesses in China. Online trade and market access will be key topics.

In Shanghai, the group will examine compliance with EU digital market rules. Meetings with e-commerce platforms Temu, Shein and Alibaba will cover consumer safety, product standards and fair competition. The visit also aims to deepen understanding of China's tech innovation and e-commerce dominance. The trip follows the European Commission's rejection of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's proposal for an EU-China trade deal. Instead, the delegation's agenda highlights ongoing economic tensions, particularly in digital trade and internal market regulations.

The delegation's discussions will address critical issues in EU-China trade relations. Topics include digital market fairness, product safety and market access for European firms. The visit marks a cautious step in engagement after years without parliamentary exchanges.