They're just one of many bones of contention between the European Union and China: tit-for-tat Chinese sanctions targeting members of the European Parliament first imposed in 2021 after the EU slapped restrictions on Chinese officials the bloc held responsible rights abuses in Xinjiang.

To this day, the blacklist includes four sitting MEPs whom China accuses of "maliciously spread[ing] lies and disinformation." The sanctions were the nail in the coffin for ill-fated trade and investment deal inked by the EU and China in late 2020.

But, with US President Donald Trump rewriting the global order and China appearing keen to capitalize on the fallout, change may be afoot.

A European Parliament spokesperson told DW on Friday that discussions with Chinese authorities on lifting sanctions on lawmakers were "continuing and in their final stages."

"It has always been the European Parliament's intention to have sanctions lifted and resume relations with China," the spokesperson added.

It's still unclear whether Beijing will halt all restrictions it imposed in 2021 — which impact several current MEPs, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights,........

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