China threatens that it will retaliate if the EU imposes new trade restrictions

The Ministry of Commerce of China issued a statement on Saturday, urging the European Union to support free trade and fair competition, rejecting protectionism. Beijing warned that if Brussels introduces "unilateral trade instruments" or discriminatory restrictions, China will "respond decisively" and take "effective measures" to defend its interests.

The warning came after internal discussions within the European Commission regarding trade policies with China, without final decisions being made. The Commission emphasized that China remains an important partner but acknowledged that current trade relations are not sustainable, calling for a more robust response from the EU. Beijing mentioned that it is open to dialogue and that discussions are ongoing about a consultation mechanism for trade and investments. Relations between the EU and China have been strained due to tariffs on electric vehicles, mutual investigations, and controls on raw material exports.