The independent voice of European business in China. We seek greater market access and improved operating conditions for our 1,600 member companies in China.

Beijing & 9 other cities in CN
Joined March 2011
Yesterday, President Jens Eskelund and Advisory Council reps had a close-door luncheon with #Trade Commissioner @MarosSefcovic, ahead of the second meeting of the EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations between Šefčovič and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. [1/2]
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Eskelund provided an overview of the current economic and policy trends in China. Advisory Council members shared their respective sectorial experiences and insights into the challenges facing European companies and outlined their recommendations. [2/2]
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Day one in China, with one goal: begin rebalancing our 🇪🇺🇨🇳 unsustainable trade deficit. I started by hearing directly from EU businesses here. The message around the table was clear: the need to improve access to the Chinese market, while boosting our economic security.
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The European Chamber today launched its annual European Business in China Position Paper 2026/27 in #Beijing. President Jens Eskelund presented the report and answered questions from media and members. Joanna Szychowska, director for Asia, DG TRADE, delivered an address. [1/3]
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Organised across 33 individual industry & horizontal position papers, it puts forward 1,096 recommendations on how Chinese policymakers can enhance business confidence, as well as achieve more sustainable trading relationships with key partners, including the EU. [2/3]
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“We believe that striking a better balance between what China produces and what its market can absorb will lead to more confidence among companies, less waste in the form of idle capacity or failed businesses, and less tensions with trade partners.” said President Eskelund. [3/3]
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On 21 July, our VP Stefan Bernhart met with a visiting delegation from @Europarl_EN's Committee for Foreign Affairs (@EP_ForeignAff) led by chair @davidmcallister . Bernhart provided an overview of the key economic trends impacting the operations of European companies in China.
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There are early signs that the business confidence might be starting to bottom out. Bernhart said that, despite the ongoing challenges, China remains a key market for European companies in terms of innovation capabilities, production ecosystems and sourcing. [2/2]
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On 21 July, our VP Gianni Di Giovanni and SG Adam Dunnett met with Commissioner @DanJoergensen at a dinner hosted by Danish Ambassador Michael Starbæk Christensen. EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo also joined and shared his views on EU-China trade & investment relations. [1/2]
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Di Giovanni presented Business Confidence Survey findings. He highlighted the importance of strengthening Europe’s competitiveness while advancing energy security, industrial resilience and the green transition. Then shared recommendations from our #Energy Working Group. [2/2]
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🌐 For many SMEs, the key question is no longer whether to use AI, but where to start - and how to do it effectively and compliantly. In China, rapid AI adoption in smart manufacturing and business operations brings opportunities, yet data, IP, and regulatory differences add complexity for European SMEs. On 16 June, the @EUSMECentre and the @EuropeanChamber organised an Inter-Chamber SME Working Group meeting in Guangzhou – the smart manufacturing base of China – to discuss the recent trends, risks and opportunities of adopting and developing AI solutions. The China IP SME Helpdesk was invited to present the International IP Helpdesk’s Guide on Artificial Intelligence covering key IP risks, protection strategies, and compliance pathways with a focus on China. 🚀 🙌 Drawing on experiences from South China and the Greater Bay Area - a global hub for manufacturing and digital innovation - the subsequent panel session featuring European SMEs from AI-related industries offered actionable insights for SMEs across China on testing, applying, and scaling AI solutions. #KnowBeforeYouGo #IPHelpdesk
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🌐 On 24 and 25 June, the @EUSMECentre and the @EuropeanChamber organised a series of seminars focused on digital marketing of F&B products and consumer goods in China. The seminars, held in Shanghai, provided a detailed overview of the tools available to European SMEs for carrying out impactful online marketing campaigns for the Chinese market. The China IP SME Helpdesk was invited to provide an overview of IP protection in China. ✅ During the 24 June seminar focusing on the marketing of F&B products, co-organised with Business France in partnership with the Agro-Food Working Group of the French Chamber of Commerce in China, the China IP SME Helpdesk senior expert Mr Elliot Papageorgiou, Head of IP Strategy at Gowling WLG, highlighted the importance of early trademark registration to avoid issues with digital marketing campaigns due to potential trademark squatting (Chinese entities registering foreign trademark first for potential monetary gains from future disputes). Mr Papageorgiou strongly recommended developing and registering a Chinese-character version of the foreign brand name for a more impactful digital marketing. He also emphasized the importance of other IP rights in the protection of SME’s intellectual assets, such as design patents for the protection of distinctive packaging and copyright for marketing materials. ✅ During the 25 June seminar focusing on the marketing of consumer goods, the China IP SME Helpdesk external expert Ms Bei Li, Legal Counsel at the Rödl Shanghai office, highlighted that many EU SMEs fail to adequately monitor the China market for potential IP infringements, particularly trademark infringements, thus missing the golden opportunities to take timely action. She recommended that SMEs improve China market monitoring for trademark use as well as preserve trademark use evidence, to help build a strong IP firewall. Ms Bei Li also warned European SMEs against copyright infringements when using Chinese fonts and images in online marketing materials and recommended copyright recordal of their own logo and stylized fonts. You can re-watch the webinar recordings here: intellectual-property-helpde… #KnowBeforeYouGo #IPHelpdesk
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Eskelund said China had performed "comparatively" ​well compared with other markets hit by volatility, with some European companies ​managing to restore profitability. Many European firms also see China as an important location ‌for ⁠innovation. reuters.com/world/china/more…
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European Chamber retweeted
Day 3 in #Beijing! 🇨🇳 Today once again demonstrated how strongly the relationship between #Europe and #China is shaped by economic strategy, diplomacy and global cooperation. The day began with a briefing hosted by #EU Ambassador J. Toledo, who provided our delegation with valuable insights into the current political and economic landscape. One thing became very clear: Europe must act in China with unity, confidence and strategic focus. Afterwards, I gave interviews to @DasErste, @handelsblatt and @derspiegel about our mission, the challenges European businesses are currently facing in China and how Europe can remain competitive in an increasingly complex global environment. I was especially pleased to meet my friend Jens Eskelund, Chairman of the @EuropeanChamber of Commerce in China. Our exchange once again highlighted how important strong European networks and clear economic positioning are in this region. Another major highlight was the visit to @Airbus in China. Seeing the scale, speed and technological precision of the operations on site was truly impressive. Airbus is a strong example of how international cooperation can succeed even in geopolitically challenging times. China remains highly dynamic, incredibly innovative and strategically important for Europe. But the discussions of the past days have also shown how essential clear interests, economic strength and European unity will be for the future. Tomorrow, the talks continue. The impressions here in Beijing are intense and they will shape Europe’s debates for years to come. 🇪🇺🇨🇳
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In many cases, European firms are becoming more deeply integrated into Chinese supply chains due to “economic necessity”, as companies seek to remain competitive against rivals already embedded in China’s #manufacturing ecosystem. sc.mp/dwzf6?utm_source=twitt… via @scmpnews
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“We don’t see sort of de-risking becoming a theme,” said President Jens Eskelund. “If anything it would indicate that European companies continue to be more dependent on #China as a #sourcing and #manufacturing location for their products,” he said. cnb.cx/4u0M5uD
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Watch the short video to learn about the key message of the newly released European Business in China Business Confidence Survey 2026. youtu.be/Vh1c_Adjoh8 Download the report: europeanchamber.com.cn/en/pu…
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Today, we published the 23rd edition of annual Business Confidence Survey, in partnership with @RolandBerger. The key finding is that after several years of deterioration, business confidence may be approaching an #inflection point. [1/3] Press release: europeanchamber.com.cn/en/pr…
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For the first time in 5 years, the proportion of respondents reporting that doing business in China became more difficult over the previous year fell (68%, -5pp y-o-y). 17% report optimism over their two-year #profitability outlook (+5pp y-o-y). [2/3]
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However, serious challenges remain. Addressing underlying structural issues will likely take many years. It would be prudent to simultaneously introduce pro-business policies that can bring ‘quick wins’ and provide the impetus for a sustained uptick in #sentiment. [3/3]
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