Cargo ships handle foreign trade containers at Qingdao Port in East China's Shandong Province on June 20, 2025. Photo: VCG

In response to a French official's recent claim regarding Chinese imported goods, a senior expert on China-Europe relations emphasized that China will steadfastly oppose any calls for trade barriers against Chinese products. China remains committed to engaging in further dialogue with both France and the EU to address trade concerns, while maintaining overall stability in bilateral relations.

The remarks came after French Finance Minister Eric Lombard claimed Europe must strengthen its tariff barriers to counter Chinese imports that risk harming the continent's industrial economy, Bloomberg reported on July 5.

Lombard argued that China's industrial policies, which he claimed aim to dominate global market, could "kill" European industries. Therefore, he called for "wider use of measures against imports from China," according to the Bloomberg report. 

"Such measures will violate the WTO's non-discrimination principle and also breach the principles of fair and open trade," Cui Hongjian, director and professor of the Center for European Union and Regional Development Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

While slamming the French official's recent call for higher trade barriers against China, and emphasizing that it contradicts the principles of free trade, Cui said that despite unfriendly rhetoric from several French politician, China will maintain a stable and pragmatic policy toward France.

Cui highlighted the importance of strategic communication and dialogue in maintaining China-France relations.

On July 4, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, pledging to jointly promote multilateralism and strengthen coordination against hegemonic conflicts and bloc confrontation, Xinhua News Angency reported.

During their meeting at the Elysee Palace, Macron noted that France and China share a broad consensus on numerous important issues, including advocating multilateralism and adhering to international laws. France and China, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, bear even greater responsibilities as today's world is facing challenges of growing uncertainty and unpredictability, per Xinhua.
The French side looks forward to strengthening policy coordination with China on international economic, financial, and global governance issues, jointly addressing global challenges, injecting more vitality into multilateralism, and preventing the world from falling into hegemonic conflicts and bloc confrontations, Macron said.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and hopes that the French side will provide a more favorable and fair environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in France.

Cui also emphasized that China remains committed to fair trade and mutual benefit. He cited the recent compromise reached between China and France on the issue of brandy imports, where China agreed to a price commitment to allow French brandy to enter the Chinese market. This move, he said, was intended to demonstrate China's willingness to engage in fair trade practices and address European concerns.

China announced anti-dumping duties on European brandy on July 4 while exempting major cognac makers that agreed to minimum price levels. Following a legal review, it accepted price undertakings submitted by relevant EU industry associations and companies. Imports that meet agreed conditions will be exempt from anti-dumping duties, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

Cui said that China's handling of the anti-dumping investigation into EU brandy serves as a model for the responsible use of trade remedy measures under WTO rules. He noted that anti-dumping measures, when based on careful investigation and clear evidence of unfair competition, are legitimate tools under both Chinese law and WTO regulations to protect domestic industries while maintaining an open market environment.