French Trade Official: China Must Understand That Destroying European Industry and Markets Will Ultimately Yield Nothing; Emphasizes Importance of "Honest" Dialogue Between China and Europe

France's Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Attractiveness, Frédéric Fekkai, said in an interview that the EU must stop being "naive," change its approach to addressing trade imbalances, and that this approach should cover all countries weaponizing foreign trade.

Speaking to Euronews, Fekkai pointed out that if China implements foreign trade policies damaging to European industry and markets, Beijing "will not benefit." His remarks come as the European Commission is considering restrictive measures against a large number of Chinese goods.

"China must understand that if they destroy European industry, thereby destroying the crucial European market for them, they will ultimately gain nothing," Fekkai stated.

Fekkai added, "We can no longer afford to be naive," noting that perceptions toward China and all countries weaponizing commercial dependencies are shifting. He explained, "This is not just a problem with China. It's about all countries."

These comments were made ahead of the high-profile "orientation debate" scheduled for Friday by Ursula von der Leyen’s team at the European Commission, during which a range of tools to protect the EU from the impact of Chinese goods will be discussed. EU leaders from the 27 member states are expected to continue deliberating on this issue during a summit in Brussels in mid-June.

One proposal currently on the table involves requiring EU companies to source components from at least three different suppliers to reduce dependence on a single foreign manufacturer. When asked whether the EU should implement such a policy, Fekkai replied, "Yes, we must do so."

The EU could also consider imposing tariffs on strategic sectors such as chemicals, or use anti-dumping or countervailing duties to correct import prices below those in the Chinese market. In 2025, the EU's exports to China amounted to €199.6 billion, while imports from China reached €559.4 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of €359.8 billion. This represents a 6.5% decline in exports compared to 2024, and a 6.4% increase in imports.

This week, responding to media reports that the European Commission is urgently developing a new trade tool to address China’s overcapacity, China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong stated at a regular press briefing on Thursday that if the EU persists in pushing forward with so-called new tools and imposes discriminatory restrictions on Chinese enterprises or products, China will firmly retaliate.

Paris has long advocated for more targeted measures to protect the European economy from the trade practices of major global powers, particularly China.

Fekkai emphasized the importance of "honest" dialogue with Beijing, noting that France-China relations are "special" and require "negotiation" and "mutual respect." He said, "We strive to respect China. China must also respect us—this is a message the European institutions must convey."

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1865978941478921/

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