As Trump imposes trade barriers, China and France seek closer ties

Paris: China and France will hold three high-level talks this year on strategic, economic, financial and cultural issues, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced after meeting his French counterpart in Beijing.

Wang described Thursday’s meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on both bilateral and China-EU relations as “constructive”.

The two nations will also use their foreign ministry consultation mechanism for more in-depth communication on common issues, he added.

Barrot’s two-day visit to China, which ends on Friday, comes amid global trade tensions, with United States President Donald Trump imposing or threatening tariffs on major partners including China and the EU.

“In the face of profound international changes, both sides should, as comprehensive strategic partners, uphold multilateralism and oppose unilateralism,” Wang said.

Both countries agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture, nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace, while exploring innovative industries such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, green hydrogen and biomanufacturing.

Wang said China would “encourage more capable and willing Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in France”.

However, trade disputes remained a point of contention, with Wang declining to be drawn on the subject, while Barrot stressed the need to seek a resolution.

In October, China imposed provisional tariffs ranging from 30.6 percent to 39 percent on European brandy imports, days after the European Union voted for tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

The tariffs on brandy have affected French cognac brands the most, shrinking the value of their exports by nearly a quarter last year.

“Our common goal is a rapid solution, allowing us to focus on future partnerships and investment,” Barrot said, noting EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic’s ongoing discussions in Beijing.

On Ukraine, Barrot urged China to push Russia toward meaningful negotiations, underlining that strong France-China relations depend on balancing commercial and security interests.

Both ministers highlighted their cooperation on climate action. Wang reaffirmed China’s commitment to international climate governance, while France called for China to participate in high-level commitments to the oceans.