China rejects EU trade criticism as European Parliament delegation visits Beijing

Chinese officials denied accusations from Germany and France that Beijing manipulates its currency, provides prohibited subsidies, or deliberately pursues a trade surplus with the European Union. Spokesperson Lin Jian said China complies with World Trade Organization rules and is open to constructive dialogue, emphasizing that trade imbalances stem from comparative advantages and the size of China’s domestic market.

A delegation of eight European Parliament members, led by German MEP David McAllister, began a three‑day visit to China to discuss these trade tensions along with the war in Ukraine, human‑rights issues, and technological cooperation. The group is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing and later travel to Shanghai for talks on tech sovereignty, AI governance, and sector competitiveness. The visit follows recent EU statements, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s warning of possible measures against China after trade disputes remain unresolved.