Trade restrictions: China threatens the EU

The authority threatened that “effective measures” would be taken to protect its interests. On Friday, the college of EU commissioners, consisting of 27 representatives, discussed the relationship with the People’s Republic in an “orientation debate”. There were no decisions, but they weren’t expected either. Instead, according to the EU, the meeting will lead to discussions at the upcoming G7 summit and the EU summit in mid-June. The G7 countries include EU members France, Germany and Italy as well as the USA, Canada, Japan and Great Britain.

EU Commission wants a uniform response

China is an important partner and exchanges and dialogue will continue, the Commission said afterwards. “At the same time, the current state of trade and investment relations is unsustainable,” it said. With economic and security interests becoming more intertwined, “both dimensions” require a more decisive and unified response, the Commission said.

Beijing, meanwhile, stressed that communication channels between China and the EU are open, citing ongoing discussions with Brussels to establish a trade and investment consultation mechanism. The relationship between the two sides has long been tense following the EU’s additional tariffs on Chinese electric cars, investigations into products from both sides and China’s export controls on important raw materials.

A twelve-member delegation from the European Parliament recently visited China’s National People’s Congress in Beijing. The ÖVP mandate Lukas Mandl then declared in a broadcast as the only participant from Austria: “China’s economy is growing. Our grandchildren will also be affected by China’s economic importance. Europe must not come under the wheels.” That’s why he, Mandl, emphasized in his remarks in the Chinese capital that economic relations must be based on reciprocity. “Europe has to reduce dependencies. And if nothing changes in trade practices, Europe will have to defend itself against cheap imports,” said Mandl.