Foreign Media: EU Launches Industrial Revitalization Plan, Targeting China's Competitive Pressure
On March 4, 2026, the EU announced a comprehensive industrial policy, with the core goal of revitalizing domestic manufacturing and protecting critical infrastructure, directly targeting competition and security risks from China.
Half of the batteries and inverters used by the EU come from China, and the proportion of solar panels is as high as 94%. Officials have characterized this level of dependence as "unsustainable." At the same time, since 2019, EU manufacturing output has declined by nearly 20%, with a large share moving to China.
To address this, the EU proposed the "Industrial Acceleration Act," aiming to increase the share of manufacturing in the EU economy from 14.3% in 2024 to 20% by 2035. EU Industry Commissioner Šefčovič stated that this is not just a change in operational methods, but a "doctrinal-level shift" — abandoning free trade and free market principles that have been upheld for decades, which was "unimaginable" just a few months ago.
The common logic behind the entire set of policies is to tighten restrictions on Chinese companies' investments and market access in Europe, while accelerating the EU's own industrial independence.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858744604451844/
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