Ministry of Commerce responds to hot issues such as China EU trade and investment consultations

Beijing, September 3 (Xinhua) -- At the regular press conference held by the Ministry of Commerce on the 3rd, spokesperson Huang Ling responded to hot issues such as China Europe trade and investment negotiations, France's implementation of the "anti super fast fashion" law, and the United States' use of the G20 to hype up so-called "economic imbalances".

In response to a question about the China EU trade and investment consultation, Huang Ling stated that since the first meeting of the China EU trade and investment consultation mechanism on June 29, the Ministry of Commerce has maintained close communication with the European side at all levels, and deeply explored feasible solutions to properly address their respective economic and trade concerns. From August 31st to September 2nd, Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji held talks with visiting Deputy Director General of the European Commission's Trade and Economic Security Department Lei Dongnei, engaging in in-depth, candid, and constructive communication on issues of concern to both sides, and guiding their teams to conduct multiple rounds of professional consultations.

What the Chinese side wants to emphasize is that consultations at all levels between China and Europe should adhere to the stable and balanced positioning of the key trade partnership between China and Europe, adhere to the equal resolution of each other's concerns, and cannot unilaterally offer prices, negotiate conditions, or even use market closures as threats, "said Huang Ling.

At the press conference, a reporter asked: France's "Anti Super Fashion" law will officially come into effect on September 1, 2026, imposing environmental fines on textile products that meet the conditions. How will cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Xiyin, Temu, and AliExpress be affected in their operations in France? What is the comment of the Ministry of Commerce on this?

Huang Ling stated that the Chinese side has taken note of the implementation of so-called "punitive" charges by the French government under the "Anti Super Fashion" law. The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the French side's insistence on promoting this discriminatory trade restriction measure.

Huang Ling said that the Chinese side urges the French side to immediately stop the implementation of the "anti super fast fashion" law, and to properly resolve the differences between the two sides in the field of sustainable textile trade through equal dialogue, creating a fair and non discriminatory market environment for Chinese enterprises. If the French side insists on acting unilaterally, the Chinese side will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, and all consequences arising therefrom will be borne by the French side.

Regarding the recent use of the G20 by the United States to hype up the so-called "economic imbalance", Huang Ling stated that China believes that using multilateral mechanisms such as the G20 to hype up the so-called "economic imbalance" and "overcapacity" is essentially promoting protectionism and finding excuses to pressure and restrict China. China firmly opposes this.

This will only disrupt the global economic and trade order and harm the healthy development of the global economy. Countries should adhere to multilateralism, strengthen policy communication and coordination, expand open cooperation, jointly maintain a stable and smooth global supply chain, and promote mutual benefit and win-win results, "said Huang Ling.