EU trade ministers gathered in Dublin on October 23, 2026, to address the bloc's growing trade deficit with China, with discussions extending beyond the automotive sector. Last week, the EU agreed to reduce the number of Chinese hybrid electric vehicles entering the market to 350,000 annually, a move aimed at protecting domestic car manufacturers. The European Commission has also been tasked with developing a proposal to potentially shut off access to the single market in extreme cases where a rival like China is seen as threatening the EU's economy.
Ministers at the meeting made it clear that the automotive sector is just the beginning of their efforts. Michal Baranowski, Poland’s undersecretary for economic development and technology, stated, “Let’s acknowledge that this is just a beginning.” This suggests that other industries may soon face similar restrictions as the EU seeks to balance its trade relations with China.