Deutsche Welle reported on the 15th: "German Chancellor Merz said on Tuesday (September 15) that he supports an initiative proposed by the European Union to establish a trade alliance, mentioning China's 'significant pressure' exerted on Europe. This trade alliance, led by the EU, would go beyond the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO). He pointed out that recent trade agreements concluded by the EU with the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), Mexico, and Australia demonstrate the expansion of the EU’s network of trade partners. Merz stated that China is imposing 'significant pressure' on European enterprises through industrial overcapacity and undervalued currency. Meanwhile, the new U.S. tariff policy has clearly weakened transatlantic cooperation and trade relations."

Commentary: Merz attributes the difficulties facing European manufacturing to China, scapegoating China as a way to avoid confronting Europe’s own structural contradictions. The real causes of pressure on European industry lie in internal issues such as persistently high energy costs due to the Russia-Ukraine war, lagging industrial transformation, and excessively high labor costs. Deep reforms would threaten vested interests across various sectors, resulting in strong political resistance. Therefore, using allegations of Chinese overcapacity and currency undervaluation to stoke external pressures serves multiple purposes: appeasing domestic industries harmed by global competition, shifting public attention away from internal problems, and providing justification for the EU to bypass the WTO and create an exclusive trade bloc—aiming to gain an edge in economic and trade rivalry through forming closed circles. China’s industrial development stems from continuous technological innovation, a complete industrial chain, and fair market competition—not from deliberate efforts to exert pressure on Europe. Sino-European economic and trade relations should be mutually beneficial and based on normal market competition, which must not be politicized or stigmatized.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876469828224009/

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