Portugal, China to hold talks as Trump-EU trade important asset

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Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, are set to hold talks in Beijing on Tuesday, as European Union member states express concerns about the potential for a trade war with both the United States and China.

Sources indicate that this will be the first visit to China by a high-ranking Portuguese government official in more than five years.

The United States is the largest destination for Portuguese exports outside the EU, while Portugal is the only Western European country still involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a key international infrastructure plan.

Since taking office on January 20, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued multiple threats of tariffs. Tensions between the EU and the U.S. have intensified this month, with both sides threatening retaliatory tariffs on billions of dollars in goods.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed that this would be the first in-person strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers’ level. She emphasized that China is ready to support the growth of bilateral relations between China and Portugal, as well as foster better China-EU relations.

Last year, Portugal reportedly abstained from an EU vote on imposing tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and has been welcoming Chinese investments in the sector.

China’s CALB, one of the world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturers, announced last month that it would invest 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion) in a gigafactory in Portugal, with production expected to begin in 2028.

Ricardo Arroja, president of Portugal’s investment promotion agency AICEP, who will accompany Rangel, emphasized that the meeting underscores Portugal’s role as a reliable partner for Chinese investment on a global scale.

According to AICEP, Chinese foreign direct investment in Portugal exceeded 12 billion euros by the end of last year, making China the fourth-largest source of FDI for the Iberian nation.

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