Japanese Media: The EU's tough stance toward China is loud but lacks real confidence
According to a report by Japan's daily newspaper Mainichi Shimbun on June 21: On the 18th and 19th, the European Union (EU) held a summit, instructing its executive body, the European Commission, to consider measures aimed at reducing the massive trade deficit with China. The goal is to strengthen controls over imported goods from China—for example, urging EU companies to diversify their procurement sources.
According to data from the European Commission, the EU's trade deficit with China has increased by 45% over five years, reaching approximately €360 billion (around 6.66 trillion Japanese yen) by 2025.
At a press conference on the 19th, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that the current situation "is undermining the foundation of manufacturing in the region and is completely unsustainable."
The EU accuses Chinese enterprises of launching price attacks in the EU market through subsidies. However, progress in curbing local businesses' "over-reliance" on China has fallen short of expectations.
Yet, there is significant concern within the EU about potential retaliatory measures from China. Countries such as Spain, which have deeply intertwined trade ties with China, oppose a hardline stance toward China.
Therefore, although the EU summit concluded that measures should be taken to reverse this large trade imbalance, it also decided to continue engaging in "constructive dialogue" with China. As a result, the policy remains ambiguous and indecisive.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868577905977355/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author