EU chamber urges Brussels to resist passive role in US-China trade war

Brussels must actively assert its interests in the escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, rather than passively accepting outcomes dictated by the superpowers. A leading European business association in China issued a stark warning, urging the EU to take the reins in discussions that directly impact its economic well-being.

European firms operating in China have found themselves caught in the crossfire, experiencing substantial operational and financial setbacks due to Beijing's implementation of export controls on critical materials like rare earths. These measures, often enacted in response to actions by the US, have repeatedly left European companies as unintended victims, suffering consequences not of their own making.

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We’re in a situation where Europe simply cannot wait.

The chamber's report underscores the growing reliance on export controls as a key tactic in the US-China trade war. Beijing's strategic use of these controls has proven effective in compelling Washington to engage in negotiations, but it leaves the EU in a precarious position. The association stresses that the EU cannot afford to remain on the sidelines and must proactively shape the narrative and outcomes of these crucial trade discussions.

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It’s regrettable that European companies, time and again, have become collateral damage to something that is not [triggered by] our own countries.