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2025-07-16 | All chapters

On 7^th - 10^th July, the second round of negotiations on the upgrade of the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was held in Geneva, making progress on trade in goods and services, investment, rules of origin areas among other. The original China-Switzerland FTA, effective since July 2014, has significantly boosted bilateral trade. (MOFCOM news).

On 11^th July, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. Besides their bilateral partnership, they also discussed global issues, including the Middle East and Russia’s war on Ukraine (MFA news, Lammy’s post).

On 13^th - 14^th July, EU Commission Executive Vice-President Ribera and Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang co-chaired the Sixth EU-China High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue (HECD) in Beijing. EU Commissioners Wopke Hoekstra, Dan Jørgensen and Jessika Roswall also participated. Both sides discussed their respective domestic climate, energy and environmental policies. They also reiterated the necessity to drive a global transition to a sustainable, circular economy and stronger climate commitments ahead of COP30. (Commission readout, State Council readout, MFA news (CN)).

On 14^th July, Jessika Roswall, EU Commissioner for Environment, and Vice-Chairman Li Chunlin of China’s National Development and Reform Commission held the 2^nd EU-China Circular Economy Policy Dialogue. They agreed to identify actions EU-China Roadmap on circular economy, addressing circularity, markets for recyclates, and ecodesign. (Commission readout)

On 14^th July, EU Commissioner Jørgensen and Wang Hongzhi of China’s National Energy Administration jointly held the 12^th meeting of the China-EU Energy Dialogue. Both sides reaffirmed to expedite the global transition to clean energy, with full consideration for ensuring energy security and addressing the challenges of global climate change. (Commission readout (1), Commission readout (2))

On 14^th July, the Commission imposed anti-dumping duties of 21.3% to 36.1% on imports of multilayered wood flooring originating in China, following a yearlong investigation. (Commission news).

On 14^th July, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, EU member states’ ministers and EU Commissioner Šefčovič reviewed China-EU relations, focusing on trade disputes ahead of the upcoming EU-China Summit. The Commission raised concerns over China’s rare earth export controls, market access barriers (including in agriculture and pharmaceuticals), and retaliatory probes on EU pork, dairy, and brandy following the EU’s EV tariffs. Ministers stressed the need for de-risking and diversifying trade partnerships amid escalating tensions (Council news, Commission readout).

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On 24^th July, EU-China summit in Beijing.