Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, wants Brussels to fold investment into a broad agreement with China, Euronews reported Oct. 21, as the two sides continue trade discussions.
“It is necessary to have a more comprehensive agreement,” Lange told Euronews. The outlet also reported that he suggested renewed attention to the investment provisions of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI).
Separate European Commission data show the scale of the goods imbalance: EU exports to China totaled €199.5 billion in 2025, while imports from China came to €559.5 billion. The Commission reported a €359.9 billion deficit, 2.7% above the 2024 level.
The EU and China reached an in-principle understanding on the CAI on Dec. 30, 2020. On May 20, 2021, the European Parliament said it would not take up the deal while China’s counter-sanctions remained in place. Parliament describes the pact as focused on investment, with public procurement and subsidies outside its scope.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič held the second Trade and Investment Consultations meeting in Beijing on Oct. 8-9. China’s Ministry of Commerce said the agenda included ways to address bilateral trade and investment balances, export controls, intellectual property rights and reform at the World Trade Organization. The European Commission and China’s commerce ministry also reported understandings on hybrid vehicles, market access, and export permits for rare earths and permanent magnets.
Šefčovič said the hybrid arrangement could reduce Chinese hybrid and plug-in hybrid exports by more than half compared with a four-year projection that assumes policy stays unchanged. Lange has described the arrangement as a potential benefit for Europe’s automotive industry; China’s commerce ministry says its approach would leave Chinese companies room to expand.
Agence Europe reported that a European Parliament trade committee delegation is due in China Oct. 27-29. Lange’s website lists planned stops in Beijing and Shanghai. Brussels and Beijing have scheduled a ministerial video conference for January 2027, followed by a third consultation in March.
