French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen expressed the need for more balanced trade as they welcomed President Xi Jinping to Paris. Macron emphasized the importance of resolving structural difficulties in trade, highlighting the significance of developing a balanced relationship with China for the future of Europe.
The European Union's concerns revolve around issues such as unequal market access and Chinese state subsidies, with von der Leyen stating that Europe cannot accept massive overproduction of Chinese industrial goods flooding its markets. These sentiments echo the sentiments of the U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, warning against the impact of Chinese imports on domestic industries in both Europe and the U.S.
During the discussions, Xi Jinping emphasized the priority of relations with Europe in China's foreign policy and called for continued dialogue and cooperation. Macron, known for his warm gestures, greeted Xi with a handshake, marking a point of contact between the two leaders who engage with differing approaches on certain issues like trade with China.
While France is advocating for a tougher line on investigations into Chinese industries like electric vehicles, Germany appears more cautious, reflecting a lack of unity among EU members in their approach towards China. France also aims to address market access for its agricultural exports and concerns related to intellectual property rights in the cosmetics industry, alongside pressuring China to influence Moscow to halt operations in Ukraine.