Brussels is polling business groups ahead of commissioners’ meeting but few details of the proposed instrument have been revealed
4-MIN READ4-MIN ListenFinbarr Berminghamin BrusselsPublished: 12:59pm, 5 May 2026Brussels is rallying support among EU industry groups for a trade weapon to tackle Chinese overcapacity, as the European Commission races to propose a sweeping new tool this summer.While the contours of the new instrument remain a closely guarded secret, it is expected to be presented to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on May 29, at a rescheduled debate on China among all 27 commissioners of the bloc’s executive branch.
Now, sources within several business groups said they had been approached by Brussels to gauge whether they would welcome such a tool and what they believe it should look like.
While constituent member businesses are being polled on their views, the groups said the commission was giving little away on the detail of an instrument it wants to propose before its long August break.
