Webinar | EU–China 2026: Trading Under Pressure, Investing Under Scrutiny

28 October, 10:00-11:00 CET

The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce has the pleasure of inviting you to the webinar "EU–China 2026: Trading Under Pressure, Investing Under Scrutiny" taking place on 28 October at 10:00 a.m. CET.

EU–China goods trade reached approximately €760 billion in 2025, making China the EU’s second-largest trading partner in goods after the United States and its largest source of imports. At the same time, the regulatory environment surrounding it has changed considerably. New EU instruments on subsidies, carbon, supply chains and economic security have entered into application in quick succession. Trade defence investigations have risen sharply, and additional duties now apply to a growing range of products. Against this background, Chinese direct investment in Europe (EU and UK) rose by 67% in 2025 to its highest level since 2018, as companies increasingly serve the European market from within it as well as from abroad, a shift that raises a different set of regulatory questions, now centred on investment screening.

In the first part of the webinar, Mr Xiaoyi Tang, Partner, International Trade at Dentons, will set out the current state of the EU–China trade relationship and the regulatory and commercial factors that shape it in practice, from tariffs and customs treatment through to product, origin and compliance requirements. He will conclude with the sectors in which Belgian and Chinese companies continue to find genuine commercial complementarity.

In the second part, Mr Richard Liu, Senior Associate, Corporate and M&A at Dentons, will address the investment side. He will briefly address greenfield investing and will then comment on the current and future foreign direct investment screening framework in Belgium.

The programme is as follows:

10:00 – 10:05 | Introduction by Ms Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director, Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce

10:05 – 10:25 | Presentation on EU–China trade relations, tariffs and regulatory challenges by Mr Xiaoyi Tang, Partner, International Trade at Dentons

10:25 – 10:45 | Presentation on investment opportunities and foreign direct investment screening in Belgium by Mr Richard Liu, Senior Associate, Corporate and M&A at Dentons

10:45 – 11:00 | Q&A session

Practical Information

Date: 28 October 2026

Time: 10:00-11:00 AM CET

Location: Online

About the Speakers:

Mr Xiaoyi Tang is a Partner in International Trade at Dentons. He advises companies on international trade and regulatory matters, including tariffs, customs treatment, product and origin requirements, and compliance issues affecting cross-border business.

Mr Richard Liu is a Senior Associate in Corporate and M&A at Dentons. He advises clients on corporate transactions and investment matters, including greenfield investment and foreign direct investment screening in Belgium.