European Union plans new import restrictions on Chinese goods

The European Union is preparing to implement new restrictions on Chinese imports starting in early 2027. According to reports, these measures may target the chemical industry, furniture manufacturing, and mechanical engineering. The EU intends to manage these imports through either specific quotas or additional tariffs applied once certain volume limits are exceeded.

This initiative aims to reduce the significant trade deficit with China, which reached approximately 360 billion euros last year. These actions follow a previous agreement in October that established an annual cap of 350,000 Chinese vehicles to avoid immediate retaliation. Additionally, the European Commission plans to introduce proposals for hybrid vehicle caps by December, intended to protect the domestic automotive sector.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stated that the Commission will respond to calls from European industries for safeguards. However, officials must navigate a delicate balance to prevent Beijing from imposing retaliatory export restrictions on critical materials and permanent magnets.