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EU-China Trade Tensions Escalate Ahead of Pivotal July Summit in Beijing
A new chapter in EU-China trade tensions is unfolding just weeks before a key diplomatic summit set to take place in Beijing in mid-July 2025. Hopes for a reset in relations are now clouded by escalating tit-for-tat trade measures, with both sides leveraging sensitive economic sectors in a growing standoff.
On Tuesday, Chinese authorities announced a six-month extension to their anti-dumping investigation into pork imports from the European Union, citing the complexity of the case. The probe, which began in June 2024, now stretches through the end of this year and targets over €1.75 billion in pork exports, particularly from Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
The move comes as the EU and China attempt to stabilise relations strained by global power shifts and lingering fallout from the U.S.-China trade war. However, analysts see the pork investigation not as a simple trade concern, but as a direct response to the EU’s recent imposition of tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). The bloc argued the tariffs were necessary to counteract unfair state subsidies that were distorting the European market.
Pork and EVs have now become symbolic flashpoints. Pork is a vital export for European farmers, particularly in niche cuts like ears and feet, which are highly valued in Chinese cuisine. Meanwhile, the EU is grappling with a surge of competitively priced Chinese EVs that threaten local carmakers.
High-level discussions in Paris last week between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič explored alternatives to outright tariffs. The EU is considering a minimum pricing framework for Chinese EVs — a compromise that could ease tensions without fully abandoning protections for European manufacturers.
“Negotiations for an agreement on a price undertaking, which would then replace the existing duties we have in place, are continuing at both technical and political level,” an EU Commission spokesperson said Tuesday.
Other flashpoints are emerging. Last week, the EU restricted Chinese medical device companies from accessing public procurement contracts in response to China’s “Buy China” policy. Meanwhile, China’s curbs on rare earth mineral exports — vital for European industry — remain a looming concern. EU officials say they have received informal indications from Beijing that the restrictions could be reconsidered, but no formal communication has been made.
Despite the friction, signs of goodwill remain. Beijing recently expanded market access for some Spanish food products, seen as a gesture ahead of the upcoming summit.
The EU-China summit, confirmed for the second half of July in Beijing, is expected to be a crucial forum to recalibrate relations and defuse one of the most complex trade disputes of the decade. Both sides hope diplomacy can avert a deeper rift and steer the relationship toward greater economic cooperation.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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