2nd EU–China Round Table
Strengthening EU–China E-Commerce:
Opportunities, Standards and Practical Market Access for European SMEs to China

Economic relations between the European Union and China are currently shaped by an increasingly prominent debate on digital trade. Within the EU, particular attention has been drawn to the rapid expansion of imports via Chinese online platforms, including concerns about products that may not comply with EU standards, may pose risks to consumers, and may create unfair competitive pressures for European SMEs. This debate is politically visible and economically sensitive. At the same time, there is a second and equally important dimension: the significant potential for European SMEs to access the Chinese market via e-commerce. Chinese consumers value high-quality, safe, and reliable European products. European standards are widely associated with trust and quality. Digital platforms can provide scalable and comparatively accessible entry points into the Chinese market. These two dynamics are interconnected. A credible and forward-looking economic dialogue must address both:

• the need to safeguard fair competition and high standards in the EU market, and
• the opportunity to improve practical, reliable, and economically sustainable market access for European SMEs in China.

Following the recent IMCO delegation visit to China, these issues have gained further political visibility and urgency. As highlighted by Engin Eroglu MEP in his reporting from the delegation, the discussions in China confirmed both the scale of these challenges and the strategic importance attached to digital trade by both sides. This shifts the focus from anticipation to concrete assessment and follow-up. The Round Table does not seek to pre-empt political conclusions. Instead, it aims to provide a structured forum to identify practical hurdles and explore potential solutions through constructive and open discussion.