Chinese Premier Li Keqiang co-chaired the 19th China-EU Leaders’ Meeting together with Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on June 1 and 2. Agreement was reached on climate change. The European Union and China warned U.S. President Donald Trump he was making a major error by withdrawing from the Paris climate pact, but they failed to agree on a formal climate statement because of divisions over trade. Speaking alongside Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, European Council President Donald Tusk said efforts to reduce pollution and combat rising sea levels would now continue without the United States. “We are convinced that the decision by the United States to leave the Paris agreement is a big mistake. The fight against climate change, and all the research, innovation and technological progress it will bring, will continue, with or without the U.S.,” Tusk said. In their meeting, the three leaders committed to cutting back on fossil fuels, developing more green technology, and helping raise funds to help poorer countries cut their emissions.

On trade and steel overproduction, differences remained. Premier Li urged the European Union to fulfill the promise made in Article 15 of the protocol on China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The EU has still not recognized China’s market-economy status, which should have been granted 15 years after the country joined the WTO on December 11, 2001. President Juncker referred to a World Bank report placing China 78th out of 190 countries in terms of the ease of doing business. “A big economic powerhouse needs to be higher than mid-table,” he said, adding that a planned EU-Chinese investment treaty needed to be completed to ensure reciprocal relations. In reply, Li said China was working hard to promote a trade balance, with Chinese tourism to Europe now far greater than EU tourism in China. Foreign investment opportunities, he said, were far different from when China first opened up. “I do hope you can put things into context. We find the problems, but we are working on them. Our ranking is getting better,” he said.

The EU complained to China about steel overcapacity and the export of Chinese products to the EU at dumping prices. China’s annual steel output is almost double the EU’s total production and Western governments say Chinese steel exports have caused a global steel crisis.

The leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in fields ranging from energy to intellectual property.