(Yicai) July 8 -- China has pushed back against an assertion made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that an “overcapacity of goods” is entering the European Union area from the Asian country, countering that consumers decide which goods are well received.

"Are Chinese goods ‘overcapacity’ or undersupply?,” Mao Ning, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular press conference on July 6. “Consumers can decide for themselves.

“Quality products that are in demand and fairly priced naturally find a ready market,” she pointed out.

“China-EU trade has benefited consumers and profited dealers,” Mao said. “It’s not something that can be forced, but a result of mutual choice that benefits both sides.” She urged the EU to “put things into perspective, ditch the zero-sum mentality, and work with China to make the pie of win-win cooperation bigger.”

An upcoming China-EU trade dialogue "has to deliver" results, von der Leyen said during a visit to Cork, Ireland on July 3. The bloc needs to be "very clear" in the talks, she stressed, citing issues including the "subsidized overcapacity of goods coming to our market to a lack of market access of our companies at the Chinese market.”

The EU no longer wants to see unfair competition stemming from subsidies, she said. Her remarks followed talks between senior EU and Chinese trade officials, after which EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said Brussels wanted "tangible results" by October.

A surge in Chinese-made air conditioner sales across Europe this summer has provided a real-world backdrop to the talks. As a heat wave swept the continent, portable and installation-free split AC units produced by Chinese firms sold out in several European markets.

China's AC exports to the EU soared 43 percent to almost USD3.8 billion in the six months ended June 30 from a year earlier, with the market share of Chinese brands climbing to 41 percent from 27 percent in the same period in 2023.

Sales of Midea Group's PortaSplit AC in Europe doubled to more than 200,000 in the first half from a year ago, while those of Gree Electric Appliances in France, Italy, and Spain surged over 40 percent. In addition, Haier Group captured 22 percent of the German home AC market.

Editor: Martin Kadiev