Politics · 2026-10-15 · Morning briefing

EU leaders tackle China trade, Ukraine aid at Brussels summit

European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for a two-day summit focused on trade with China, support for Ukraine, and the bloc's budget. A primary goal is to address the bloc's trade deficit with Beijing, which reached €360 billion ($400.4 billion) last year and is on track to grow. The talks follow a recent agreement by the European Commission to curb imports of hybrid cars from China.

On Friday, the agenda will turn to Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled to attend discussions on further support. European aid is gaining importance as the US under President Donald Trump continues an ambivalent path on the conflict. Ahead of the summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly called for new measures to counter market distortions.

Leaders will also confront the bloc's next seven-year budget, from 2028 to 2034. Pressure is growing to secure an agreement at a special summit in November, ahead of elections in several member states next year which could make a deal more difficult to achieve.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

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• EU leaders to tackle China exports, energy prices, budget at summit
• EU Leaders Meet to Tackle China Imports, Energy Costs and Budget Disputes
• European manufacturers urge EU to tackle China trade imbalance
• G7 leaders tackle reliance on China for critical minerals

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