China Rebukes EU Chief After Demand for Greater Trade Access

Ursula von der Leyen

Photographer: Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images

China hit back at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after she accused the nation of distorting trade and limiting access for Europe’s firms — a back-and-forth clouding the outlook for an upcoming summit.

“We hope the EU can realize that what needs to be rebalanced is the EU’s mindset, not China-EU economic ties,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.