On 8-9 October 2026 in Beijing, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič held the second meeting of the EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations (TIC) and issued a joint statement with an annex list of deliverables and understandings. The sides reaffirmed handling differences under WTO rules to stabilise and balance the relationship, agreed to a third ministerial meeting in March 2027 with a January ministerial video-conference, and recorded specific points on export controls including continued facilitation of rare earths and permanent magnets licences to the EU and EU-side work on dual-use priority licences to China.
Who this affects
- For exporters: China is willing to continue facilitating export licenses for the supply of rare earths and permanent magnets to the EU through the fast-track mechanism; the EU side will continue to work with Member State authorities to facilitate specific priority licences to China among dual-use sectors.
- For investors: The two sides agreed to explore how investment can bring more benefits to their economies and to discuss future-oriented cooperation, alongside continued work on market access issues including medical devices and technical dialogue on the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.
- For counsel/compliance: The two sides reached an understanding in the context of the Export Control Dialogue to provide advance warning and to improve the transparency of listing and delisting procedures, and supported steps to delist entities, consistently with their applicable legislation.
- For policymakers: Both sides will continue, within the framework of WTO rules, to explore the possibility of tariff reductions or elimination for certain goods, and reaffirmed the need to further strengthen the EU-China Export Control Dialogue.
The read
The documented outcomes link Chinese facilitation of rare earths and permanent magnets licences to the EU with EU facilitation of dual-use priority licences to China, while recording advance notification and transparency steps on listings and delistings under the Export Control Dialogue. This sits alongside the recorded understanding on hybrid vehicle trade in a WTO-compliant manner and continuation of corporate price undertaking procedures in the BEVs anti-subsidy case. The package records parallel workstreams on trade and investment balancing, export controls, IPR, and WTO reform without altering underlying licensing requirements.
What was the action?
Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič held the second meeting of the EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations on 8-9 October 2026 in Beijing, conducted pragmatic and productive discussions, and reached a list of deliverables and understandings set out in an annex. The sides reaffirmed as key trading partners the commitment to properly handle differences under the framework of WTO rules and to continue working to stabilise and make the bilateral relationship more balanced, and agreed to hold the third TIC ministerial meeting in March 2027 with close communication including a ministerial video-conference in January.
What’s the penalty / scope, and how is it set?
No penalty is stated. The action consists of recorded understandings and agreements to continue or explore measures, including: China willing to continue facilitating export licenses for rare earths and permanent magnets to the EU through the fast-track mechanism; the EU continuing to work with Member State authorities to facilitate specific priority licences to China among dual-use sectors; reaffirmation of the need to strengthen the EU-China Export Control Dialogue with increased exchanges including through guidance, outreach and trainings; discussion of the possibility to investigate structural facilitation measures for compliant dual-use exports; and an understanding to provide advance warning and improve transparency of listing and delisting procedures while supporting steps to delist entities consistently with applicable legislation. Additional points cover exploration of tariff reductions or elimination for certain goods under WTO rules, an understanding on trade in hybrid vehicles in a WTO compliant manner, continuation of procedures relating to corporate price undertakings and reviews in the BEVs anti-subsidy case, and technical dialogue on the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.
Who else is exposed?
The record names China and the European Union / European Commission as the parties, with references to Member State authorities on dual-use licences and to workstreams covering exporters of rare earths and permanent magnets, dual-use items, hybrid vehicles, medical devices, and related sectors. Not specified in the record beyond these parties and the listed issue areas.
What happens next
The two sides agreed to hold the third TIC ministerial meeting in March 2027 and to maintain close communication prior to that, including holding a ministerial video-conference in January. Working teams are to continue advancing follow-up on the recorded outcomes and understandings.
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