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Trump's tariffs: EU and China still cannot agree
In the run-up to a summit in Beijing, the deep tensions between the EU and China are becoming apparent. Despite shared economic challenges, an alliance remains elusive.
Trump's tariffs: EU and China still cannot agree
Hong Kong – In the ongoing trade crisis under Donald Trump, some analysts thought that the European Union (EU) and China could possibly move closer together. But at the summit in Beijing on Thursday, the deep-rooted mistrust and tensions between the two economic powers are likely to become clear.
EU-China summit
Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang in Beijing. This meeting comes amid increased tariffs on both countries' exports to the US, which has prompted Beijing to seek closer ties with the EU and other major economies. But the multitude of differences that exist make this goal difficult to achieve.
EU concerns
The EU did not hesitate to speak openly about its concerns before the summit. In recent weeks, officials expressed long-standing concerns about supposedly cheap Chinese goods "flooding" the European market. There were also alarming references to control of the supply chain for rare earths and Beijing's ongoing support for Russia in the Ukraine war.
Reactions from Beijing
Beijing has responded strongly to these concerns, particularly the decision by the 27 member states last year To impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, and has announced its own commercial investigations. After the EU decided last month to exclude Chinese companies from public tenders for medical equipment above a certain value, Beijing responded with its own restrictions on purchasing European equipment.
The impact of US policy
Trump's trade war and his negotiations with both major powers also cast a long shadow over the summit. There were already signs earlier this year that Beijing hoped the shared threat of US tariffs could bring China and Europe closer together. But Ursula von der Leyen made clear in separate addresses to G7 leaders and European MPs that the EU's deep concerns about Beijing remain.
Demands for collaboration
The EU is clear in its desire not to break off economic ties but to “rebalance”, especially given a deficit of over 300 billion euros last year. At the same time, the EU wants to help “de-risk” supply chains and work with China on global issues such as climate change – a potential area of agreement this week.
The challenges of collaboration
But experts point out that a key obstacle for Europe is the belief that Beijing is not responding to Brussels' key concerns. “We haven't had an EU-China summit that produced viable results for many years, and this one will be no different,” said Noah Barkin of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Outlook for the summit meeting
Given that any concrete progress seems unlikely, observers on both sides emphasize that the dialogue itself already represents progress. On ongoing conflicts and challenges, ranging from climate change to AI, the need for cooperation between the EU and China becomes clear. Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Relations at Renmin University in Beijing, emphasized: "If China and the EU strive for win-win cooperation, the so-called new Cold War cannot prevail."