Exclusive | EU shelves Taiwan trade upgrade amid high-wire balancing act on China
- Announcement of new strategic format for liaising with Taiwan on trade and economic issues is postponed, although it is likely to be revisited
- Some EU lawmakers want Taiwan issue to be higher on the bloc’s agenda, but there is concern that ties with Beijing could plunge further

It would have marked an expansion of the annual consultations between Brussels and Taipei, the 32nd of which took place last December at deputy ministerial level.
But the announcement, being handled by the trade commission, was postponed at the eleventh hour. It is likely to be revisited at a later date, perhaps in conjunction with the European Parliament, which has been pushing for stronger ties with Taiwan, according to a source in the parliament.
It comes as the EU tries to perform a high-wire balancing act, attempting to re-engage with Beijing following a sharp deterioration in ties over the first six months of the year, while at the same time enhancing its relationship with self-ruled Taiwan – which Beijing views as a breakaway province.
It is widely thought that some senior EU figures are concerned that pursuing the latter objective could jeopardise the former.