Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Chinese Workers Find Brussels Ally as EU-China Trade Tensions Rise
The European Union is worried that China sells many more goods to Europe than it buys.
It says weak wages and limited worker protections may be helping Chinese companies keep prices low.
Some Chinese workers say they are forced to work very long hours.
Many people call this “996 culture,” meaning working from 9 a.m.
to 9 p.m., six days a week.
A new EU rule will block goods made with forced or involuntary labor.
The rule will begin in December 2027.
Some Chinese social media users support the EU rule and are sharing information about how to report labor problems.
Chinese officials have not commented on the report.
The issue is making some workers’ interests look different from those of companies that export goods.
Chinese workers are supporting EU scrutiny of excessive overtime amid rising trade tensions with Beijing.
The European Union’s Forced Labour Regulation, adopted in 2024, will take effect in December 2027.
The EU has given China until October to address trade imbalances and concerns about industrial layoffs.
Chinese workers reportedly average more than 48 hours a week, exceeding the legal 44-hour cap.
Videos about EU complaint procedures attracted hundreds of thousands of views on Chinese social media before some posts were restricted or removed.
- Who
- The European Union, Chinese workers, Chinese exporters, and Chinese and European officials are involved.
- What
- The EU is pressing China over trade imbalances and labor conditions, while Chinese workers are discussing EU complaints about excessive overtime.
- When
- The report was published August 26; the EU regulation takes effect in December 2027, and China has until October to address trade concerns.
- Where
- The issue concerns trade between China and the European Union, with worker discussions appearing on Chinese social media platforms.
- Why
- The EU says weak Chinese domestic demand, low wages, insufficient labor protection, and overcapacity are contributing to trade imbalances and pressure on European industries.
Workers and EU Regulators
Chinese Exporters and Trade Concerns
Excessive overtime
Workers and EU Regulators
Chinese workers and EU officials view excessive or involuntary overtime as a labor-rights issue that can justify scrutiny or sanctions.
Chinese Exporters and Trade Concerns
Export-oriented companies benefit from low prices and intense production, while the report notes that employers are facing deflationary price wars and strong competition.
Effect on trade
Workers and EU Regulators
The EU argues that weak labor protection and low wages can contribute to unfair price advantages and harm European industries and jobs.
Chinese Exporters and Trade Concerns
Chinese officials and business interests could regard stronger foreign enforcement as a trade barrier threatening exporters’ access to overseas markets.
Social media complaints
Workers and EU Regulators
Some Chinese users support EU enforcement and have shared information about filing complaints with European authorities.
Chinese Exporters and Trade Concerns
Chinese platforms have removed some posts or limited their reach, and the European Commission says it has not seen a noticeable increase in complaints.
- EU-China trade deficit
- Europe ran a trade deficit with China of roughly $1 billion per day last year.
- EU deadline
- The European Union has given Beijing until October to address growing trade imbalances.
- Forced Labour Regulation
- Adopted in 2024, the regulation bans goods produced with imposed or involuntary work, including excessive overtime.
- Effective date
- The regulation takes effect in December 2027.
- Chinese working hours
- Official figures say Chinese people work more than 48 hours per week on average, compared with a legal cap of 44 hours.
- Social media reach
- Videos tagged with EU reporting-related terms on Douyin received more than 200,000 views.
- EU complaints
- A European Commission source said departments had received informal labor-violation allegations but no noticeable recent increase in complaints.