Written by: Mikołaj Wozniak, Karolina Czarnowska. crucial support: Łukasz Kobierski
1.01 China warns the EU against carbon trade restrictions
Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) found the EU border price adjustment mechanics including CO2 emissions (CBAM) to be unfair and in consequence besides announced decisive action, while protecting their own improvement interests.
Border price adjustment mechanics including CO2 emissions (CBAM) is an EU tool to set fair carbon prices for the production of high-carbon goods which are introduced into the EU and to encourage cleaner industrial production in 3rd countries. The mechanics entered into force on 1 January 2026 after coordinated implementation in all EU associate States.
The Ministry's spokesperson said that the EU is ignoring China's efforts to green and low-carbon development, setting importantly higher default base values for the carbon strength of Chinese products and planning to increase them annually over the next 3 years. He besides mentioned that the findings do not reflect either the current situation of China or their future improvement trajectory and constitute unfair and discriminatory treatment of China and besides violate the WTO principles. According to China, the EU promotes fresh forms of trade protectionism, ignoring historical work for emissions, as well as differences in the technological capacity of individual countries and imposing on developing countries its own carbon standards. China has besides called on the EU to respect climate and trade rules, abandon protectionism, keep open markets, facilitate trade and investment and keep the stableness of global supply chains. They besides stressed their willingness to cooperate with the EU in the fight against global challenges of climate change.
4.01. Martin-Xi meeting
In days 4-8 January Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin went on an authoritative visit to China. During the visit he visited Beijing and Shanghai. The program of the visit to the capital included meetings with China's president Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Qiang and the president of the National Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Assembly of Zhao Leji People's Representatives. In Shanghai, the Prime Minister met with Mayor Gong Zheng and business leaders. It was Ireland's first visit to China since 2012.
The meetings discussed Ireland's bilateral relations with China, including economical and trade relations, EU-China relations and common global challenges. During the visit, the Prime Minister of Ireland besides met with representatives of 12 Irish universities and their Chinese partners in the higher education sector.
Within talks Martin-Xi of the 2 interviewors confirmed that since the establishment of the strategical partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation in 2012, trade in countries has quadrupled. The Chinese side has confirmed its willingness to work with Ireland to strengthen strategical communication, strengthen common political assurance and grow applicable cooperation in order to bring more benefits to both nations and to supply greater impetus for Chinese-European relations. The importance of strengthening economical and trade cooperation, seeking synergies in improvement strategies in areas specified as artificial intelligence, the digital economy and pharmaceuticals and health, as well as encouraging common investment, cooperation in education, culture and tourism, and strengthening human links was highlighted. president Xi besides pointed out that today's planet is undergoing changes and turmoil, which further underlines the importance of these activities.
In addition, the Chinese Communication from this event shows that, since Ireland will include the EU's rotating Presidency in the second half of the year, Ireland is expected to play a constructive function in ensuring a healthy and unchangeable improvement of Chinese-EU relations. Ireland has confirmed its willingness to play an active function in developing relations between the EU and China and has confirmed that China plays an essential function in global matters and has made a affirmative contribution to maintaining UN authority and promoting multilateralism and planet peace. Ireland explicitly supports 1 China policy and is committed to strengthening and developing a strategical partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation between the 2 countries.
It is worth noting that, due to the continued cold relations with Brussels, China is showing an expanding interest in establishing individual contacts with the countries of the European Union. Beijing besides considers bilateral meetings as a way of conveying its views on relations with the EU.
Martin's visit took place 2 weeks after announcement by Beijing customs duties on EU milk products, imposing provisional levies of up to 42.7%. This is the latest act in a series of anti-export measures from the EU, commonly seen as retaliation for duties on electrical vehicles imposed by the Union. Ireland is 1 of the largest European exporters of dairy products, and farms send more than 90% of their production worth around EUR 6 billion. It was 1 of the EU countries that voted to impose duties on Chinese electrical vehicles.
6.22. Valtonen-Wang telephone call
Minister of abroad Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen held a telephone conversation with the Chinese abroad Minister on 6 January Wang Yi on current global and bilateral issues.
Wang stressedChina and Finland celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year. He added that bilateral relations between the 2 countries had reached a fresh level of improvement and that cooperation in different fields had brought fresh results. The Chinese minister besides confirmed that China will proceed to search to open the planet to a advanced level and deepen cooperation with Finland in areas specified as energy transformation, circular economy, artificial intelligence, green improvement and environmental protection, as well as maintaining free trade and promoting economical globalisation. He besides referred to the EU-China relations and hoped that Finland, as an crucial EU associate State, would play a affirmative function in promoting a rational and nonsubjective EU view of China, resolving disputes through dialog and consultation, as well as reopening the ratification of an investment agreement between China and the EU. Wang besides explained China's position on Taiwan and highlighted the regressive actions of the current nipponese leader.
Valtonen stressed Finland's support for Ukraine and the urgent request to end the war, while adding that all countries are required to comply with the United Nations Charter and global law.
It is worth noting that, despite authoritative statements coming out of Beijing about remaining neutral in the case of the war in Ukraine, the relation between China and Russia has grown importantly in fresh years and it is not seen on the horizon that the Chinese-Russian Unions are to loosen.
12.01. The European Commission publishes a proposal paper on price commitments for electrical vehicles powered by batteries from China
Following the negotiations of the European Commission and the People's Republic of China on 12 January, they were published Guidelines concerning the submission of price undertakings in the context of anti-subsidy duties imposed on battery-powered electrical vehicles originating in China. The guidelines cover various aspects to be included in the offer, including the minimum import price, sales channels, cross-compensation and future investment in the EU.
On 29 October 2024, the European Commission concluded Anti-subsidy investigation on imports of electrical vehicles from China, imposing definitive countervailing duties ranging from 7,8 % to 35,3 %. In parallel, both sides conducted a number of rounds of consultations to implement the agreement reached at the China-EU Summit and to decently resolve the EU anti-subsidy case concerning Chinese electrical vehicles in accordance with WTO rules.
Both the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the European Union expressed their satisfaction at the advancement made by China and the EU while noting that the appropriate resolution of the EU anti-subsidy case against Chinese electrical vehicles will increase marketplace assurance and the safety and stableness of the related industrial and commercial chains, safe overall economical and trade cooperation between China and the EU, and keep a principle-based global trade order, and support enhanced cooperation between China and the EU on technological innovation and environmental transformation.
12.01. First Slovak-Chinese gathering of the Intergovernmental strategical Partnership Committee
The 12 January day for Bratislava's relation with Beijing turned out to be fruitful in the debut of the fresh format, i.e. the Intergovernmental Committee on strategical Partnership. Inauguration event held in the Slovak capital, to which the Chinese delegation led by Hua Chunying, Deputy Minister of abroad Affairs of the PRC, flew. The host organization was represented by the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and was accompanied by the head of the Slovak MFA Juraj Blanár, Secretary of State of the Slovak MFA Marek Eštok and representatives of another ministries.
The gathering was reported by the Slovak embassy in Beijing in the form of a press release. According to its content, the first gathering in this format is "the applicable consequence of the conclusion of the strategical Partnership between the Slovak Republic and the People's Republic of China during the authoritative visit of Prime Minister R. Fica to China in November 2024". Blanár, commenting on the desire to make pragmatic relations with China, stated: "The strategical partnership that our government has concluded with China provides an crucial framework for continuing political dialog and for carrying out affirmative actions in precedence areas for the Slovak Republic." He further stressed that China is the most crucial trading partner in the Asia region for Slovakia – the yearly turnover exceeds $10 billion. In his opinion, the dialog between Bratislava and Beijing "focuss mainly on supporting investment and trade relations, including exports, which will bring advanced added value to the Slovak economy".
The event was besides a pretext for, as the origin message put it, "to decision from general statements to setting concrete steps based on thirteen co-operation agreements and memorandums signed between the Slovak Republic and China during the visit of the Slovak Prime Minister, R. Fico, in Beijing". Moreover, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Education of Slovakia and China. This agreement is to cover the bilingual activities of the Slovak-Chinese sections. It is worth noting that in the field of cultural policy Slovakia seeks to make a Slovak Institute in Beijing to advance the culture of this country in China.
As part of the consultation between Eštok and Hua, policy-related issues were discussed, both bilateral and multilateral. According to the Slovak Secretary of State, "China is simply a strong player internationally and equally strong partner of the Slovak Republic in promoting peaceful diplomacy and compliance with global law" — this is peculiarly crucial for Bratislava from the position of Slovakia's candidacy to take up the position of a non-permanent associate of the UN safety Council from 2028 to 2029. In the further part of the discussions, Eštok raised the problems of global crises and conflicts, but no of them were mentioned by name or more broadly agreed. On the another hand, the fundamental importance of European unity for Slovakia has been stressed and the Slovak side continues to keep its allegiance to the "one China" policy. Finally, the Slovak Secretary of State assured his co-talker that Bratislava was curious in continuing "regular and substantive meetings within the framework of strategical partnership mechanisms to jointly make as many successful projects and initiatives for the citizens of both countries".
16.01. The European Commission imposes duties on imports of melted alumina from China
16 January European Commission announced the imposition of anti-dumping duties on imports of melted alumina from the People's Republic of China into the European Union. Melted aluminium oxide (synthetic corundum) is simply a material utilized to produce steel or another metals, glass and ceramics. Moreover, its wide application can be found in the defence sector. January duties are definitive duties and their value will scope from 88.7% to 110.6%. Furthermore, the Commission introduced a ‘ duty-free tariff quota which allows the introduction into the EU of a limited volume of imports from China without duties’. Where specified quota is exceeded, all transport shall automatically be subject to anti-dumping duties for a period of 5 years.
The European Commission argues with its decision as follows: ‘This decision was made for the benefit of the EU, in the light of exceptional circumstances affecting both the Union manufacture and the downstream industry. The imposition of duties follows an investigation into unfair commercial practices.
The following section of the Communication on this case states that the duty-free tariff quota will be gradually reduced over a period of 5 years. This is to aid safe the value chain related to the material in question. The Communication stressed that the melted alumina value chain is "a key origin for economical security, strategical autonomy and long-term industrial competitiveness of Europe". Moreover, the imposition of specified tariffs will preserve the "industrial ecosystem" and reduce the EU's dependence on the supply of strategical natural material from China (in the name of the de-risking policy).
20.01. Macron in Davos on the request for Chinese investment in Europe
As part of this year's Davos summit, which took place between 19 and 23 January, many leaders and guests gave their speeches. However, from the point of view of the Review, it was the French president Emmanuel Macron who made any interesting statements. Named respective times in his own uncommon It raised the issue of Europe's relation with the People's Republic of China. In the first sentences, he stated that there is now "China's competition", which is "yet more dangerous". As part of this competition, he mentioned issues specified as overcapacity, marketplace distorting practices, industrial and commercial industries. All this – in his opinion – boils down to destabilising planet trade and the global system. Macron's remediation to this situation is "greater cooperation" as well as "building fresh approaches", specifically: "building greater economical sovereignty and a strategical economy, especially for Europeans". In addition, he felt that addressing global economical imbalances present was crucial to addressing global economical problems. Macron's view is that the causes of the current imbalance are "over-consumption in America, under-consumption and over-investment in China and underinvestment and deficiency of competitiveness in Europe". Hence, his conclusion that "we request [Europe] more Chinese abroad direct investment in Europe, in any key sectors, to contribute to our growth, to the transfer of certain technologies and not only to exports to Europe devices or products that sometimes do not meet the same standards or are much more subsidised than those produced in Europe". He added: "This is not protectionism, it is simply restoring a level playing field and protecting our industry." Macron said that expanding investment in Europe is crucial to it, but this cannot be done without maintaining an adequate European economical protection policy, including reducing the risks to supply chains, especially in semiconductors, and diversifying trading partners.
The words of the French president were not unnoticed by Beijing observers – in this case, by the Chinese paper "Global Times". Sole Article referring to Macron's thoughts from Davos, he was commented on by 1 of the Chinese experts on the Europa-China relationship. Jian Junbo stated that “this position towards China is not a fresh or immediate consequence to the fresh US tariff threats to Greenland. In fact, it shows that the EU, as a whole, has tried to balance its approach to China in the face of rising protectionism, as well as the hegemonic US moves." He further added that the Chinese do not see any obstacles to expanding their direct investment in Europe. The only thing standing in the way is the approach of the European Union itself to Chinese investments. In his view, the EU "must be more honest by eliminating current obstacles". Macron's strong criticism of the United States during his speech in Davos was besides utilized by the "Global Times". The Chinese side so reiterates the request to change Europe's approach to relations with China and to go beyond the framework of conflicts on the line not only US-China but besides US-EU. At the end of the article, Jian's call to reject the "de-risking" policy against China for "a more nonsubjective and pragmatic perspective". The Chinese expert stressed the request to focus the EU on "long-term cooperation". This, in turn, would be an impetus to increase Chinese investment in Europe.
21.01. Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the PRC MFA, on relations with the EU
The Ministry of abroad Affairs of the People's Republic of China besides referred to the words of the French president from the Davos Summit. 21 January at a press conference Ombudsman China's abroad Ministry, Guo Jiakun, was asked by a China-Arab tv writer about Beijing's position after Macron's words about the request to increase Chinese investment in Europe. Guo began his answer by stating that "economic and trade relations between China and the EU complement each another and benefit both parties". He further noted that China has a competitive advantage not due to the fact that it subsidises the products or industries in question, but due to the fact that it is the consequence of a "great effort of research, full marketplace competition and the full industrial chain". In addition, it ensured that China does not aim to make a trade surplus. "In addition to being a planet factory, we hope that we will besides be a planet market", he added. Guo expressed Beijing's hopes that the European side would adopt a "long-term position and open approach" towards China, and that the European Union would cooperate with the PRC "in the same direction to advance the sustainable and robust improvement of China's economical and trade ties". Another hope for Beijing is that Europe will supply a "fair, non-discriminatory, transparent and predictable marketplace environment" for Chinese companies, which, as the Chinese MFA spokesperson stated, are encouraged and supported by the Beijing government to invest and act in Europe.
24.01. Orpo in China
On 24–29 January 2026, Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stayed in Beijing as part of an authoritative state visit. The intent of the visit was to deepen political dialogue, to discuss current global challenges and to strengthen economical cooperation between Finland and the People's Republic of China.
During his visit, Orpo held respective meetings at the highest level. The first was a gathering with the leader of the People's Republic of China – Xi Jinping. president during the discussion stressed the historical depth of Chinese-Finish relations – China and Finland have maintained diplomatic relations for more than 76 years and have developed common trust, respect and beneficial cooperation, which is the foundation of friendly cooperation between the peoples of both countries. Xi besides pointed out the importance of cooperation in areas specified as energy transition, circular economy, agriculture and forestry and technological innovation, encouraging Finnish companies to enter the Chinese marketplace actively to increase their global competitiveness.
Prime Minister Orpo, according to the Finnish narration, put peculiar emphasis on Russia's war against Ukraine. According to the Finnish government's communication, in an interview with Xi, he stressed that Russian aggression towards Ukraine threatens the safety of Finland and Europe as a whole, and stated that no 1 should support Russia's actions that violate global law. The Prime Minister called on China, as a permanent associate of the UN safety Council, to act for lasting peace in Ukraine and indicated that Chinese peace support in Ukraine is crucial. In addition, Orpo noted that relations between the European Union and China are crucial for the global economy, stressing the request to advance trade based on reciprocity and equal opportunities. On the another hand, the Chinese side stressed its willingness to cooperate with Finland and another partners in order to support the UN-based global governance and global law, as Xi identified as key to tackling global challenges. He stressed that China and Finland should work together to advance a multi-polar planet and an inclusive global economy.
During the visit, Orpo besides pointed out the issue of access by Finnish companies to the Chinese marketplace and the trade balance, stressing that there is simply a slight advantage of the Chinese side in trade relations between China and Finland, which for Helsinki means that there is simply a request for more balance.
The next 2 meetings were held by the Finnish Prime Minister as follows with Prime Minister Li Qiang and president of the Standing Committee on People's legislature Zhao Leji. Conversations Orpo of Li led to the signing of memorandums of agreement on future cooperation in areas specified as sustainable construction, energy cooperation, animal illness management, as well as an agreement on tourism promotion and a technological and method consultation protocol. In turn meeting with Zhao besides stressed the bilateral interest in deepening common cooperation, respecting the past of diplomatic relations and exchanging parliamentary and legislative experiences.
Finally, it is worth noting that the communications from the People's Republic of China carefully ignored issues related to the war in Ukraine. Neither of them utilized the word "crisis in Ukraine" nor did the word "Ukraine" itself appear.
28.01. Wang-Bonne telephone call
On January 28, representatives of China and France had a telephone conversation. China's abroad Minister Wang Yi and French president Emmanuel Bonn discussed both issues concerning broad global policy and current affairs between China and France. The information from this conversation is based on Communication Chinese abroad Office. According to him, Wang stated that with the fresh year that came, besides the "international scenery has undergone crucial changes". These changes, in his opinion, are turbulence and instability. Therefore, both countries should "enhance communication and coordination, jointly instill the vitally needed stableness in the present world, and better exploit the strategical value of Chinese-French relations". The same applies to issues related to Chinese-EU relations. Wang stressed that China and the European Union are not rivals in the modern global system, but partners. At least over 50 years of "fruitful results of bilateral cooperation" are to confirm this. Moreover, China and the EU share a akin position on promoting multilateralism and resolving disputes through dialog and negotiation. Wang further expressed hopes that France would so play a "positive role" in developing relations between Brussels and Beijing.
For its part, the French typical has confirmed that France " attaches large importance to comprehensive strategical cooperation" with China and besides expresses its willingness to deepen strategical communication and coordination on the global phase on both bilateral and multilateral issues. In line with the Chinese Communication, Bonne noted that it is in the interests of the European Union that both sides proceed to make their cooperation and guarantee the stableness of bilateral relations. He besides declared that France was ready to advance the continuous improvement of relations on the Brussels-Pekin line.
Both sides besides addressed global safety issues. Nevertheless, without much item at the end of the Chinese MFA's memo, it was stated: "Both sides [...] exchanged views on current inflammatory issues specified as the Ukraine crisis and the situation in Venezuela and Iran".
30.01. China reduces customs duties on EU milk products
According to the information provided by the European Milk Association (EDA) and Eucolait, China has lowered the proposed duties on certain milk products 2 European manufacture associations reported from the European Union, concluding an anti-subsidy investigation, commonly seen as retaliation for EU charges on Chinese electrical cars. In the definitive duties transferred to the European side, China proposes additional duties of up to 11.7%, compared to the maximum rate of 42.7% in the provisional duties announced in December. According to information, many companies will be subject to 9.5%. The European Commission and the Chinese Ministry of Trade have not yet officially confirmed this information.
From a strategical perspective, the simplification in the proposed duties by China may reflect a balanced effort to avoid serious disruptions in the supply chains of basic food products while maintaining a firm position. Maintaining tariffs at a low double-digit level remains a crucial cost burden for EU exporters, but mitigates direct shocks in bilateral trade relations.
