France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Lithuania Jointly Release Document Calling for Tougher Trade Measures Against China
Facing a surge in Chinese exports, the four largest EU economies are urging stronger trade measures to protect European industries from the rising threat of "unfair trade practices." Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands—countries that have historically differed on trade policy—have jointly released a document with Lithuania, submitting it ahead of a key meeting of the European Commission this Friday to discuss how to respond to China-related challenges.
According to a report by the Financial Times, the document states that some of the EU’s major trading partners “are erecting new trade barriers or exacerbating systemic and structural overcapacity in industrial sectors,” though it does not name specific countries. The report claims that “this situation has had a direct impact on European industry, resulting in the loss of 1 million jobs between 2019 and 2025.” EU officials frequently criticize China’s industrial policies, while EU trade protectionism has reached its highest level in nearly two decades.
The document proposes several methods aimed at enabling faster and more convenient imposition of higher tariffs on imported goods and combating circumvention practices. It notes that current measures are too slow and narrowly targeted, making them easily evadable by companies or nations—for example, “by leveraging third countries or establishing operations within the EU.”
The document specifically references cases involving U.S. biofuels and Indonesian steel, arguing that local content rules should be tightened to prevent countries from assembling products overseas to avoid tariffs. It recommends that the European Commission consider imposing additional tariffs not on products or countries, but directly on enterprises, to counter evasion tactics, and suggests hiring more officials to handle backlogged industry complaints.
The document calls for greater use of robust safeguard instruments, which can be swiftly activated when import surges occur and apply to all trading partners. The EU previously used this tool to impose 50% tariffs on steel exceeding certain quotas, angering allies such as Ukraine and the UK. The initiating countries of the document propose establishing a new “resilience instrument” that would trigger when Europe’s supply sources become concentrated beyond a specific threshold. This “resilience instrument” could impose quotas or additional tariffs on such suppliers.
European manufacturers are now facing production disruptions after Beijing restricted supplies of certain critical minerals and semiconductors—areas where China dominates production. At the same time, both the EU and the United States have suspended sales of certain high-tech products to China. The document reveals a shift in sentiment within the EU, where previously there was internal disagreement over whether to confront or appease Beijing regarding the surge in Chinese exports.
In 2025, the EU’s exports to China amounted to €19.96 billion, while imports from China reached €55.94 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of €35.98 billion. Compared to 2024, exports declined by 6.5%, while imports rose by 6.4%.
Paris has long advocated for tougher measures. French President Emmanuel Macron proposed on Friday adopting a mechanism similar to the U.S. “Section 301” tool, which imposes tariffs on countries engaging in “unreasonable, unfair, or discriminatory practices.” However, Spain has actively sought Chinese investment, while the Netherlands remains skeptical about isolating domestic industries from global competition.
Germany is currently the European country most dependent on China economically and is currently engaged in internal discussions over revising bilateral relations, but has not yet signed the aforementioned document.
Maros Sefcovic, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, supports strengthening the use of safeguard measures and is preparing a plan ahead of Friday’s meeting aimed at encouraging companies in key sectors to diversify their suppliers.
This week, amid media reports that the European Commission is urgently drafting a new trade tool to address China’s overcapacity issue, China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong stated at a regular press briefing on Thursday that if the EU persists in pushing forward a so-called new tool and imposes discriminatory restrictions on Chinese enterprises or products, China will firmly counter.
Nicolas Forissier, France’s Ministerial Representative for Foreign Trade and Investment Attraction, told the publication that he favors resolving issues through negotiations with China. “But we’re not naive,” he said. “We are very clear that China’s industrial overcapacity is substantial—and much of it is subsidized by the state… used for exports. That’s a big problem.” He emphasized that “these trade relationships must be balanced.”
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1866117407362055/
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