EU mission to Tokyo and Beijing before tariffs deadline with US
On 24 July meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, together with EU Council President Antonio Costa and High Representative Kaja Kallas
2' min read
2' min read
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, together with EU Council President Antonio Costa and High Representative Kaja Kallas will be in the Japanese capital on Wednesday 23 July for the 30th EU-Japan summit. The next day they will fly to Beijing: a mission that will take place in the hot days, very close to the deadline of 1 August, by which it will be clear whether Brussels and Washington will reach an agreement on tariffs or not. Tokyo is the Union's closest strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region and the meeting will be tasked with further deepening cooperation in several areas: in particular on security and defence, trade and economic security, and support for a rules-based international order and multilateralism.
Themes that will be the focus of a joint declaration in which an attempt will be made to relaunch trade cooperation, pushing for a strengthening of the Cptpp - the transpacific agreement that also involves Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom - as the basis for a 'WTO 2.0'. On Thursday 24 the most delicate summit, the one with Beijing: in the morning there will be a meeting with President Xi for a discussion on global affairs and bilateral relations, in the afternoon there will be a discussion and dinner with Prime Minister Li Qiang, focused on trade issues. According to Brussels, both the EU and China have a common interest in pursuing a constructive, stable, balanced and mutually beneficial relationship.
The EU will reiterate the need to defend multilateralism, address the issue of Russia's war of aggression against Kiev, and reiterate its positions. The EU will remind Beijing that this is not just a regional issue or a European war - as some might claim - but a direct threat to the world order. On the economic front, the EU is aware of the progress on trade, which has increased 300-fold in the last 50 years, but will report on the deep imbalances and consequent concerns. Ursula von der Leyen's message will be that the current situation is not sustainable and that a rebalancing is needed.
Of course, the EU welcomes competition - it is the foundation of the Draghi report and the competitiveness compass - but it must be fair competition. China - is the thesis of Brussels - benefits from our open markets but buys too little. Market access is limited. The mantra will be the demand for reciprocity.
