Bangladesh, Oct. 10 -- A 16-point trade consensus offers Beijing and Brussels an opportunity to ease tensions, protect global supply chains and demonstrate why dialogue remains more effective than economic confrontation.

At a time when geopolitical rivalry and protectionism are threatening the global economy, China and the European Union face a defining choice: strengthen their economic partnership or allow political mistrust to undermine one of the worlds most important trading relationships.

The second meeting of the China-EU bilateral trade and investment consultation mechanism, held in Beijing, produced a 16-point consensus covering trade imbalances, export controls, intellectual property rights and reform of the World Trade Organiz...