EU Prepares New Trade Measures and Tariffs on Chinese Imports

New EU trade rules may soon raise prices on Chinese goods locally. The European Commission is preparing defensive trade instruments and tariffs on Chinese imports.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced these plans in Strasbourg on Wednesday. She stated Chinese subsidies create unfair competition for European companies. The EU trade deficit with China reached one billion euros a day in 2025.

EU leaders still support finding solutions through dialogue with Beijing. An October deal on hybrid cars aims to reduce Chinese exports to Europe. European firms also secured access to Chinese rare earth elements and magnets. Von der Leyen noted that single agreements cannot fix structural trade imbalances.

The Commission will present a supply chain package called Diversify EU in December. A new trade tool could restrict market access immediately when issues arise. EU leaders also plan a solidarity package to support affected industries. This report was originally published by CPH Post.