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China’s Russia ties mean EU trade deal is off the table, Finland says

China’s close ties with Russia should be a “disqualifying factor” in Beijing’s bid to launch talks on a free-trade agreement with the European Union, Finland’s…

By Samantha Johnson / April 23, 2026

China’s close ties with Russia should be a “disqualifying factor” in Beijing’s bid to launch talks on a free-trade agreement with the European Union, Finland’s foreign minister has said.

In meetings with European leaders, Beijing has been floating the prospect of a trade or investment deal, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz last month said a pact could be possible in the future.

In an exclusive interview in Helsinki on Wednesday, however, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen poured cold water on the idea, saying that Beijing’s close ties with Moscow will block progress towards any EU-China trade deal.

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While there have been no formal discussions about launching talks, the suggestion has appeared in several official Chinese diplomatic readouts.

Valtonen’s statement shows Finland could provide a de facto veto on any moves in that direction, given that no talks could be launched without the backing of all 27 EU member states.

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“I do think that is a disqualifying factor … I would say so,” Valtonen told the South China Morning Post in Finland’s Parliament House.

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