The EU is importing far more from China than it exports there, with the bloc’s trade deficit exceeding €1bn a day in July. The widening imbalance is increasing pressure on Brussels to address trade relations with Beijing, as both sides seek to avoid a broader trade war.

The deficit reached €36.5bn in July, compared with €32.2bn a year earlier, while the January–July total rose to €234bn. For every €1 of goods exported to China, the EU imported €3.10; possible responses include quotas on Chinese hybrid vehicles and chemicals, whose imports have grown sharply. Chinese exports and rare-earth restrictions are also expected to feature in upcoming US-China and EU-China talks.