China Says Industrial and Supply Chains With EU Are 'Mutually Dependent,' Calls for Dialogue on Trade Concerns

China has said that its industrial and supply chains with the European Union are "mutually dependent," urging dialogue over trade concerns as it prepares to host the EU's top trade negotiator in Beijing.

The remarks come as France and Germany have pressed the European Union to reduce what they describe as "European dependencies" on Chinese supply chains, a push tied to broader concerns in Brussels about reliance on China for critical raw materials, components and manufacturing capacity.

Chinese officials frame the relationship differently, arguing that trade and industrial ties between China and the EU are not one-sided but interdependent, built on integrated manufacturing and supply networks developed over decades.

The planned visit by a senior EU trade official to Beijing is expected to focus on addressing specific areas of friction between the two blocs, after months of tension over issues ranging from electric vehicle tariffs to export controls on strategic materials.

A push for dialogue over restrictions

Beijing's call for dialogue rather than confrontation reflects a broader diplomatic approach it has taken in response to European efforts to "de-risk" trade relationships, arguing that cooperation remains preferable to further restrictions.

France and Germany, the EU's two largest economies, have been among the most vocal in calling for Europe to diversify its supply chains and reduce vulnerability to disruptions originating from a single trading partner, a position that has shaped the EU's evolving trade strategy toward China.

Trade frictions between Beijing and Brussels have intensified in recent years, with both sides imposing or threatening tariffs in sectors such as electric vehicles, solar panels and medical devices. China's framing of the relationship as "mutually dependent" appears aimed at discouraging further protectionist measures from the EU.

Neither side has indicated that the upcoming visit will produce a comprehensive resolution to outstanding trade disputes, but officials from both sides have signaled a preference for continued engagement over an escalation of restrictions.