The European Commission has requested a WTO dispute panel against China, accusing Beijing of unfair trade practices that restrict the ability of EU companies to enforce their intellectual property rights. The move escalates a long-running dispute over Chinese policies that Brussels says force European firms to accept below-market royalties on their technology.
Separately, the Commission this week accepted a price undertaking from a Chinese exporter of battery electric vehicles — allowing that company to avoid countervailing duties by committing to minimum prices. Anti-dumping duties were also imposed on Chinese sweetcorn imports, and existing duties on Chinese fused alumina were maintained.
The flurry of actions reflects an intensifying EU trade defence posture. One senior European executive told the German Marshall Fund to expect trade defence measures "on an almost daily basis" throughout 2026. The Commission is also preparing new economic security measures on access to EU public funding, expected in March, which would further limit Chinese companies' reach in the European market.