# Europe Hardens Its China Trade Stance as Beijing Courts Canada

Brussels agreed on a tougher approach to Chinese trade and drew an immediate threat of retaliation, even as China told Canada it could double its exports.

- Published: 2026-05-29T20:35:07.196Z
- Canonical: https://polylog.news/2026-05-29/europe-hardens-its-china-trade-stance-as-beijing-courts-cana
- Publisher: Polylog (Global desk)
- Section: geopolitics
- Sources: [South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355380/brussels-fires-starting-gun-tougher-china-trade-policy-beijing-vows-retaliation?utm_source=rss_feed), [South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3355384/canada-might-double-exports-china-chinese-fm-wang-yi-says-during-rare-visit?utm_source=rss_feed), [Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-canada-launch-trade-investment-forum/articleshow/131397012.cms)

The European Commission agreed on a tougher new approach to trade with China at a rare Beijing-focused debate among its leadership on Friday. The bloc's trade chief, Maros Sefcovic, set out why the European Union needs stronger tools to defend itself, and Beijing vowed [retaliation](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355380/brussels-fires-starting-gun-tougher-china-trade-policy-beijing-vows-retaliation?utm_source=rss_feed), the South China Morning Post reported.

At the same time, China is widening its commercial reach elsewhere. During a rare visit by Canada's foreign minister, Anita Anand, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Canada could [double its exports](https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3355384/canada-might-double-exports-china-chinese-fm-wang-yi-says-during-rare-visit?utm_source=rss_feed) to China, surpassing a goal of a 50 percent increase by 2030. Canada is also building ties in other directions, launching a trade and investment forum with India, the [Economic Times reported](https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-canada-launch-trade-investment-forum/articleshow/131397012.cms), where Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal discussed an economic partnership agreement.

The contrast captures a fragmenting trade order. As Europe and China move toward confrontation, middle powers such as Canada and India are diversifying their partners rather than choosing a single bloc, a pattern that points away from a single dominant trading system and toward a more divided one.