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FM spokesperson comments on China-EU rare-earth talks, stresses addressing differences through dialogue

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Oct 28, 2025 11:23 PM

China-EU economic and trade relations are shaped by their mutual complementarity and are win-win in nature. We hope the EU will honor its commitment of supporting free trade and opposing trade protectionism, and refrain from resorting to restrictive measures, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on Tuesday.

Guo's remarks came in response to an AFP question claiming that delegations from the EU and China will meet in Brussels on Thursday for talks on rare earths, asking China's posture heading into these talks and whether China prepared to ease export controls on rare earths or offer any other concessions.

Guo noted that the EU needs to properly address trade differences through dialogue and consultation, provide an open, transparent and non-discriminatory environment for businesses from all countries, and take concrete actions to uphold the principles of market economy and WTO rules.

For anything specific, I'd refer you to competent authorities, Guo added.

Also during the press conference, a reporter from Brasil de Fato said that on Sunday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed in an interview that China "never imposed" rare earth export controls and he also implied that the threat to impose 100 percent tariffs on China played a role in the negotiations. The reporter asked whether the Chinese government suspend or it is planning to suspend these rare earths export controls and whether the US tariff threats influence the discussions in Kuala Lumpur as Scott Bessent implied.

In response, Guo said that for anything specific, I'd refer you to competent authorities. On the policy of rare earth export controls, China has made its position clear on multiple occasions. Our measures aim to standardize and refine the export control system, which is in line with common practices. China does so in order to better maintain world peace and regional stability and to fulfill non-proliferation and other international obligations.

"We stand ready to work with the rest of the world to step up export control dialogue and exchange, so as to better keep global industrial and supply chains secure and stable," Guo noted.

On the China-US economic and trade consultation, China has released a readout, which you may refer to, the spokesperson noted.