China

EU's Sefcovic in Beijing to Discuss Trade Deficit

Is EU-China interdependence an asset Europe should manage, or a vulnerability it must dismantle?

Published 3 days ago

EU's Sefcovic in Beijing to Discuss Trade Deficit

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Above: An illustration photograph with the EU and Chinese flags displayed on screens, in Brussels on June 2. Image credit: Nicolas Tucat/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-China narrative

Interdependence between two giant economies is an asset worth managing. Europe's deindustrialization, sky-high energy costs and heavy regulation were homegrown, so blaming Chinese factories just dodges the real fix. Deadline threats and longer restriction lists only raise costs for European consumers, while open cooperation with Beijing will no doubt pay off.

China Daily

China Says on X

Anti-China narrative

A trading partner that suppresses consumption to run a giant surplus drains demand from Europe instead of fueling growth. Swapping one dependency for another, while Beijing bankrolls Russia's war and punishes small member states over Taiwan, is shortsightedness. Real security comes from building European industry, cheaper energy and a deeper single market.

Euro Prospects

Velina Tchakarova on X