Reuters · October 15, 2026

EU Leaders Meet in Brussels on Thursday to Discuss China Exports, Energy Prices and the 2028-2034 Budget

• Leaders of the EU's 27 member states convene in Brussels on Thursday to discuss exports from China, high energy prices and the bloc's next seven-year budget for 2028-2034, according to the report.
• The EU's goods trade deficit with China reached €360 billion ($400.4 billion) in 2025, according to the report; the European Commission recently secured an agreement with Beijing to limit imports of hybrid cars from China, and the next EU-China meeting is planned for March.
• Draft summit conclusions indicate leaders will request the Commission to continue dialogue with Beijing while making full use of EU trade defence measures, according to the report.
• Beijing has said that presenting economic imbalances as an issue is an excuse to promote protectionism and exert pressure on China, according to the report.
• Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is due to attend on Friday, and leaders are likely to discuss Ukraine's funding needs for 2027, according to the report.

Draft conclusions and statements as reported; Beijing's response is included as documented in the source. Original headline: "EU leaders to tackle China exports, energy prices, budget at summit".