The Guardian15 Jun 2026Macro
Automatically composed with AI from the cited sources
The April deficit reached €31.9bn, the highest monthly figure on record, according to Eurostat data. European leaders meet on Thursday to discuss the imbalance; trade expert Rafael Jimenez Buendía said the €1bn-per-day rate is likely to persist in May and June figures due to shipments already recorded by Chinese customs but still at sea. Options under discussion include quotas on Chinese chemicals and hybrid cars, with tariffs considered the least likely instrument. Imports of Chinese hybrid cars have risen sharply since the EU imposed tariffs on battery-electric vehicles in 2024 but left hybrids untouched.