In 2025, Chinese leader Xi Jinping tried to capitalize on U.S. belligerence toward Europe by promoting China as the responsible great-power alternative. In a message sent to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, Xi invited Brussels to join forces with Beijing, to \u201cuphold multilateralism, safeguard fairness and justice,\u201d and \u201coppose unilateralism and bullying.\u201d Despite the lofty rhetoric, Beijing offered nothing of substance to Europeans, and did nothing to address their concerns about unfair trade practices that are threatening large swaths of European industry. Indeed, rather than seeking to conciliate, Chinese premier Li Qiang recently dismissed the concerns of Europeans worried about a \u201cChina Shock 2.0,\u201d telling them to focus instead on \u201cChina Opportunity 2.0.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key EU leaders, as well as the Brussels bureaucracy, are not buying it. They have concluded that the very survival of Europe\u2019s core industries is threatened by China<\/a>. The first \u201cChina shock\u201d describes the devastation of U.S. industry in sectors including furniture, textiles, and metals that came in the early 2000s, after China\u2019s accession to the World Trade Organization. The new China shock will be different. It will happen mainly in Europe, and it will be more severe, devastating advanced industrial sectors\u2014including automotive, machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and green energy\u2014and leading to immense job losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Increasingly, European leaders are arguing that the EU<\/a> needs to take action to protect its industries. So severe is the threat that measures that were unthinkable a few years ago are now gaining momentum. Earlier this year, for example, the French government proposed \u201cestablishing a level of protection equivalent to a general tariff of around 30 percent vis-\u00e0-vis China.\u201d And although Germany was initially hesitant, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has signaled that he is ready to act to deal with China\u2019s unfair trade practices. Last month, every EU leader, with the exception of Spain, tasked the European Commission with coming up with options for action. An all-out trade war with China is becoming a real possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p> Sharing this piece by @thorstenbenner<\/a> on the stakes of China-EU trade tensions and why Europe shouldn't submit to acceptance of the status quo.
https:\/\/t.co\/ClED070DRZ<\/a> via @ForeignAffairs<\/a><\/p>— Ryan Hass (@ryanl_hass) July 20, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>