China Proposes EU Import Expansion in Bid to Soften High-Tech Export Controls

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao proposes a trade expansion with the EU, urging the 27-state bloc to relax high-tech export controls and depoliticize trade relations.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 7:19 AM EDT

Source: Reuters

The Strategy: Market Access for Tech Security

Wang Wentao’s proposal highlights a strategic attempt by Beijing to find an alternative to the fractured U.S.-China trade corridor:

The High-Tech Goal: Beijing’s primary objective remains the easing of EU restrictions on critical technologies, such as advanced semiconductors and lithography equipment, which have been increasingly limited under "de-risking" policies.

Rational Development: Wang urged the EU to view China's growth "rationally and objectively," a phrase often used by Beijing to counter European investigations into Chinese EV subsidies and industrial capacity.

Friction Management: The minister expressed hope that bilateral economic and trade relations can be promoted by "properly addressing frictions" rather than through unilateral tariffs.

Context: The WTO Summit in Cameroon