[Source/Observer Network Qi Qian] It has been reported that the Trump administration of the United States is attempting to coerce other countries into restricting economic and trade cooperation with China through tariff measures. According to Euro News reports, on April 22nd local time, the EU responded by stating that the US-EU tariff negotiations are unrelated to Sino-European relations, and despite the latest developments, the EU's policy towards China will "remain unchanged," and the EU will not decouple from China.
The report states that when questioned about related issues that day, the Deputy Spokesperson of the European Commission, Arianna Podestà, said that the EU-US negotiations and its relationship with China are "two completely different matters."
Podestà stated: "We are negotiating trade with the United States. This is a negotiation between both parties, discussing how to achieve mutual benefits."
"This is different from our relationship with China," Podestà emphasized, stating that despite the latest developments, the EU's policy toward China remains "unchanged," which is based on the policy of "de-risking, not decoupling."
When asked whether the Chinese issue is "not under consideration" in the EU-US negotiations, Podestà replied that for the EU, the only red line is the "safety and well-being" of EU citizens, while "the rest remains to be discussed."
According to reports from Politico EU, on the same day, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen told the website that after former President Trump's tariff policies disrupted global markets, countries were ready to cooperate with Europe as a "reliable" trading partner.
"In an increasingly unpredictable global environment, countries are lining up to cooperate with us," von der Leyen told Politico EU. It was reported that in recent weeks, she had spoken with leaders from Iceland, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Canada, India, and the UAE, who are seeking "strong and reliable partners."
Von der Leyen added that the global order is undergoing "more profound changes than at any time since the end of the Cold War."
Screenshot of von der Leyen's speech on US-EU negotiations recently
It is reported that the so-called "de-risking" strategy is the one proposed by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen during her first term. At that time, EU officials led by von der Leyen advocated taking a tough stance on trade and security issues with China and won praise from the Biden administration of the United States. China has expressed its position, urging the EU to adhere to basic market economy principles such as free trade, fair competition, and open cooperation.
However, after the Trump administration came to power, it wielded the tariff stick globally, and the EU was not spared.
Trump announced so-called "reciprocal tariffs" against the EU at a rate of 20% on April 2nd. A week later, with the financial market collapsing, Trump suspended the tariffs for 90 days while maintaining a benchmark rate of 10%. In addition, the EU also faces a 25% tariff on steel, aluminum, and automobiles from the United States.
Subsequently, the EU accelerated negotiations with the United States, but to date, no significant progress has been made. Bloomberg recently cited sources saying that the EU is drafting a proposal to plan export restrictions on certain goods to the United States as a potential retaliatory measure against Trump's initiation of a large-scale trade war.
Meanwhile, von der Leyen has adopted a more cooperative tone regarding China in recent speeches. There have been frequent interactions between China and the EU, with attention drawn to a series of high-level reciprocal visits and a series of "constructive" video calls. An EU official said that the EU "will not embrace China," but "if we do not consider our market as a bargaining chip in dealing with China now, then we are fools."
According to data from Eurostat, in 2023, the United States was the largest destination for EU exports (worth 501.9 billion euros), followed by China (223.5 billion euros). Meanwhile, China accounted for the largest share of EU imports (516.2 billion euros), followed by the United States (346.7 billion euros).
However, it is worth noting that after the Trump administration gradually distanced itself from the EU on trade and security issues, many people believed this would provide an opportunity to improve EU-China relations. But so far, the EU's attitude toward China remains awkward. Previously, some EU member states even worried about "China," claiming that a large amount of Chinese imported products would flood the EU market and impact EU enterprises.
Recently, according to multiple foreign media reports, sources revealed that the Trump administration is preparing to pressure other countries in tariff negotiations, requiring them to restrict trade with China in exchange for US tariff exemptions. When asked if Latin America should "decouple" from China, Trump claimed: "Maybe, yes, maybe they should."
In response, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce responded on the 21st, pointing out that recently, the United States has imposed tariffs indiscriminately on all trading partners under the guise of so-called "reciprocity," while coercing various parties to engage in so-called "reciprocal tariff" negotiations. This is essentially imposing hegemonic politics and unilateral bullying in the guise of "reciprocity." Appeasing will not bring peace, and compromise will not earn respect. Sacrificing others' interests for temporary private gains is like trying to skin a tiger; ultimately, both sides will lose out, harming others without benefiting oneself.
The spokesperson stated that China respects all parties resolving their economic and trade disputes with the US through equal consultations. China believes that all parties should stand on the side of fairness and justice and on the right side of history in the issue of "reciprocal tariffs," defending international trade rules and the multilateral trading system. It is particularly important to point out that China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China's interests. If such a situation arises, China will absolutely not accept it and will resolutely retaliate proportionally. China has the determination and ability to safeguard its own interests.
The spokesperson emphasized that facing the impact of unilateralism and protectionism, no one can remain unscathed. If international trade regresses to the "law of the jungle," all countries will become victims. China is willing to strengthen unity and coordination with all parties, work together to resist unilateral bullying practices, safeguard legitimate rights and interests, and defend international fairness and justice.
This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496300239213675035/
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