EU Supports Trump’s Upcoming Visit to China

WASHINGTON — European nations are officially backing President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing in mid-May, where he’ll discuss relations with China, according to a senior EU official.

In an interview near the White House, Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commission Commissioner for Economic Productivity and former Prime Minister of Latvia, acknowledged the shared concerns between the U.S. and Europe regarding China. When asked if Europe is supportive of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he noted, “We share many concerns with the United States about our relationship with China, including trade imbalances, China’s industrial overcapacity, and non-market policies.”

Dombrovskis added, “For instance, China’s strategy to use its reliance on critical minerals, like rare earth supplies, as leverage is particularly concerning. We are collaborating with the U.S. on various aspects, especially during events like the IMF Spring Meetings, where global economic disparities are key points of discussion. Economically, the U.S. is the largest trading partner for the EU, while China ranks second. This dynamic is problematic in several ways. Our focus is not on decoupling but on ‘de-risking’—addressing imbalances and unfair competition while managing dependencies on China.”

Originally scheduled for early April, Trump’s trip to Beijing was postponed due to the situation in Iran. This visit comes after a year of escalating trade disputes between the U.S. and China, highlighted by new tariffs. Since last year’s Liberation Day, Trump has successfully negotiated trade agreements covering over 85% of the world’s GDP, partnering not only with the EU but with countries like Japan, South Korea, and India.

Dombrovskis emphasized that the EU is committed to honoring the agreement reached between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last summer in Scotland. “This agreement has injected some stability into the trade relationship between the EU and the U.S.,” he remarked. “Given that we are each other’s largest trading partners, with trade amounting to around 1.7 trillion euros annually, stability is crucial. Although the situation has faced various challenges, we are committed to moving forward.”

Reflecting on the deal, President Trump previously described it as a “great deal for both sides.” Dombrovskis also raised concerns about potential collaboration among Russia, Iran, and China to disrupt the global economic order. He mentioned that the EU is prepared to provide an additional 90 billion euros to Ukraine over the next two years, and he is in Washington for the annual spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group.