Overview

• China officially ended sanctions imposed in 2021 on the EU human rights subcommittee and four Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
• Sanctions against former MEP Reinhard Bütikofer and the EU’s Political and Security Committee remain in place, highlighting selective easing.
• The move is seen as a response to pressure from new U.S. tariffs and growing global trade tensions under President Donald Trump.
• EU leaders maintain that progress on human rights issues, including Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, is a prerequisite for resuming talks on the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI).
• Skepticism persists among EU lawmakers, with concerns over China's industrial policies, market barriers, and ongoing human rights violations.