Name: EC Midday press briefing of 12/11/2026
Uploaded: 2026-11-12T12:19:30+00:00
Duration: 120 s

EC Midday press briefing of 12/11/2026

12 November 2026

Contents updated at 08:01

Commission midday briefing segment focused on questions to the trade spokesperson regarding the ongoing EU–China technical-level meeting on chemicals and other sectors, expectations from the talks, and the prospect of voluntary Chinese export limits amid warnings of possible Chinese countermeasures, with the spokesperson declining to comment on the ongoing meeting and stressing continuity with outcomes of the latest trade and investment consultations and preparations for the 2027 session.

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 European Commission

Follow its sittings

00:00 - 00:22

Speaker 3

Thanks. It's a question for Olof on trade. So, Juliette Benadé for Agence Europe. I had a question on today's meeting between Director General Dieter Jürgensson and Chinese counterpart, Minister of Commerce, Ling Ji. So, they are discussing possible measures on chemicals.

00:22 - 00:48

Speaker 4

I was wondering if they will be discussing trade measures in other sectors as well. And also, what do you expect from the discussions? Are you confident that the Chinese will accept to voluntarily limit their exports in other sectors, considering that the ambassador to the EU has warned last week that China might have to take countermeasures to defend its interest? Thanks.

00:48 - 01:49

Speaker 2

Thank you for your questions. So, first of all, just to be clear, we, at no point, have confirmed the agenda of this technical-level meeting. Second of all, this technical-level meeting is still ongoing, so it would not be appropriate for me to say anything about it right now. And third of all, we have nothing particularly new to say as regards talks between the European Union and China. You're aware that we had a very positive outcome at the last meeting of the trade and investment consultations.

So, what's happening now, and I'm sure this would be reflected in anything we may say about today's technical-level meeting, what's happening now is that we are taking stock of the decisions made at the most recent trade and investment consultation, and looking ahead and preparing the work for the one that will take place in 2027. We can't say more at the moment. Bear with us.

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