Libération: French Parliament Report Emphasizes the Need for Europe to Develop Relations with China Independently from U.S. Influence

Libération, July 5 report, the French National Assembly's Committee on European Affairs has adopted a strongly worded official report, directly accusing the EU's policy towards China of having become "a tool of U.S. trade war." This 153-page report, drafted by Paris MP Sofia Cikiru of the "France Unbowed" party, reveals that Europe is facing a dual crisis of internal industrial damage and external strategic confusion.

The report sharply criticizes EU policies for "often aligning with U.S. policies towards China," leading Europe into "a harmful trade war vortex with China." The report specifically points out that after French Foreign Minister Barrot's emergency visit to China in April, China agreed to delay the additional tariffs on French Cognac for three months. This "breathing space" is a clear example of pragmatic cooperation between China and Europe.

The report reveals that when the U.S. unilaterally announced a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, the EU quickly followed with sanctions, causing a sharp decline in European automakers' market share in China. At the same time, European business circles showed high enthusiasm for cooperation with China - at this year's China Development Forum, European business representatives accounted for 40%, far exceeding other regions.

"The Trump 2.0 era has undermined the foundations on which Europe relies," the report quotes recent cases: the U.S. vice president's ruthless criticism of European values at the Munich Security Conference, U.S.-Russia negotiations on Ukraine without involving Europe, the U.S. threatening to withdraw security guarantees to Europe, and even imposing car tariffs on Europe.

Cambridge University scholar Martin Jacques emphasized in the report: "Calls for improving relations with China are growing in Europe," and the EU is forced to comprehensively re-examine transatlantic relations. When the U.S. Commerce Secretary urgently summoned the EU Trade Commissioner but refused to negotiate, European leaders finally realized the urgency of strategic autonomy.

The report cites the view of Portuguese newspaper Observador, pointing out that Western anti-China prejudice and the outdated concept of "cheap Chinese products" are harming Europe's innovation and economic development. Excluding China from international dialogue will only exacerbate geopolitical division, leaving Europe isolated among "the Global South" countries.

The case of Chery, a Chinese automobile manufacturer, and Spain's Ebro company's joint production of new electric vehicles is highlighted - this cooperation has revived the popular Ebro brand and created many local jobs.

"Sino-European relations do not target, depend on, or are subject to a third party." The report ends with the statement by Liu Qinjian, spokesperson of the National People's Congress of China: developing Sino-European relations requires "remaining calm amidst storms and sitting steadily fishing."

The report warns that if the EU continues to see China as a "testament of loyalty to the United States" rather than an independent partner, it will miss the strategic opportunity to build a multipolar world. In global issues such as climate change and artificial intelligence governance, Sino-European cooperation is irreplaceable.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836801232704586/

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