EU imports from China triple EU exports to China

A new customs‑based study released on Thursday found that the European Union’s trade deficit with China exceeded €1 billion a day in July, a figure that comes just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. The data show that EU consumers and businesses imported goods worth more than three times the value of Chinese exports to the bloc, underscoring a persistent imbalance in bilateral trade flows.

According to the analysis, the daily shortfall—measured as EU imports from China minus EU exports to China—averaged over €1 billion (about £860 million) in July alone. The study highlights how EU firms and households continue to rely heavily on Chinese manufactured goods, while Chinese purchases of European products remain comparatively modest. The findings add a quantitative backdrop to ongoing discussions about trade policy and market access between the two largest economies.

The report’s timing is notable, as the EU and China are preparing for high‑level diplomatic engagement with the U.S. summit. While the study does not prescribe policy, it provides a clear metric of the trade gap that could inform future negotiations on tariffs, investment, and supply‑chain resilience. The data suggest that any comprehensive trade dialogue will need to address the persistent imbalance that has widened over recent months.