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2025-07-23 | All chapters

On 16^th July, a China-EU exchange on cosmetic regulatory frameworks was held in Beijing. Deputy Commissioner of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Xu Jinghe, representatives from the EU Delegation to China, Cosmetics Europe, and the European Chamber participated in the event (Xinhua News, European Chamber News).

On 18^th July, the European Union imposed restrictions on seven Chinese companies as part of its 18^th sanctions package against Russia following Russia’s war against Ukraine. The affected companies supplied Russia with goods used on the battlefield. China expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition to the EU's inclusion of Chinese companies and financial institutions (Commission press corner, MOFCOM news).

On 18^th July, the European Commission approved the formation of a petrochemical joint venture between Kuwait’s Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) and China’s Wanhua Chemical Group, under the EU Merger Regulation, as it poses no competition concerns in the European Economic Area (EEA) (Commission press release). On the same day the European Commission opened a public consultation on a draft of the Guidelines on the implementation of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR). The FSR enables the Commission to address distortions caused by foreign subsidies and ensures a level playing field for all companies operating in the internal market. Prior to the FSR, subsidies granted by non-EU governments went unchecked. (Commission press release)

On 18^th July, the European Commission concluded its examination of fraud allegations notified by the German authorities in 2023 in relation to biodiesel imports from China. While the Commission identified some systemic weaknesses in the way certification audits have been conducted, the information gathered did not allow confirmation of the existence of fraud (Commission press release)

On 21^st - 23^rd July, Members of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) travelled to Taipei to gain firsthand insight into Taiwan’s “whole-of-society” approach to countering hybrid threats, foreign interference and disinformation (Parliament press room).

On 21^st July, Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks   in Beijing. Both sides discussed potential new Chinese investments, especially in green energy and infrastructure, and facilitating access to the Chinese market for the Croatian agricultural and high-tech sectors.  (Croatian MFA news, Chinese MFA news, Croatian public broadcaster news).

On 21^st July, the WTO circulated the final arbitration award in the proceedings initiated by the European Union under the Dispute Settlement Understanding to review the findings of a WTO dispute panel in “China — Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights” (DS611) The arbitrators ruled that Anti-Suit Injunction issued by Chinese courts blocked European companies from enforcing their patent rights globally. (WTO news).

WATCH OUT FOR:

On 24^th July, the 25^th EU-China Summit – Beijing, China

29-30^th August 2025, Informal meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers – Copenhagen, Denmark

20^th October 2025, EU Foreign Affairs Council - Luxembourg, Luxembourg