In the context of the Trump administration continuously increasing tariffs on Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has recently made frequent statements, sending strong signals of a strategic shift for the EU — deepening cooperation with Asia to counter the impact of American unilateralism. This shift is not only about trade disputes but also reflects profound reorganization in the global power structure, which can be described as an unprecedented change in a century. As the core economy in Asia, China is actively promoting Sino-European cooperation with an open attitude, injecting key momentum into this transformation.

The Trump administration implemented the "reciprocal tariff" policy targeting EU goods from April 2025, imposing an additional 20% tariff on products including agricultural goods, industrial products, and digital services. Von der Leyen condemned this move multiple times, warning it would "seriously damage the global economy," and indicated that the EU had prepared a "strong countermeasure plan," including levying digital taxes on U.S. tech giants and using the Anti-Coercion Instrument to strike back at service trade. Despite the temporary suspension of some tariff measures for 90 days to seek negotiation space, Von der Leyen stated bluntly: "The transatlantic relationship has reached a turning point and cannot return to what it was."

This rift exposes the vulnerability of the traditional US-EU alliance. Trump toolized trade policies by requiring the EU to purchase $350 billion worth of American energy for tariff reductions, which the EU viewed as "economic coercion." The divisions within the EU over its stance towards the US (such as Germany's call for cooperation with China and Spain's frequent visits) further weakened its collective response capability.

Facing pressure from the US, Von der Leyen explicitly proposed that the EU will "accelerate strategic autonomy" and turn its attention to Asia. Its core approach includes:

Deepening economic ties between China and Europe: In 2023, the trade volume between China and Europe reached €740 billion, with a reduction of 27% in the trade deficit, expanding cooperation from traditional trade to green energy, digital infrastructure, and technological innovation. Countries within the EU like Spain and Hungary have explored new growth points through bilateral cooperation, while the German Minister of Economics publicly called for "prioritizing cooperation with China."

Expanding Southeast Asian partnerships: The EU is advancing trade agreements with countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines in Southeast Asia, aiming to build a "non-US-dominated supply chain system." This layout aims not only to diversify away from dependence on the US but also to counterbalance China's influence, forming a diversified check-and-balance mechanism.

Digital sovereignty and technology alliances: Targeting the digital hegemony of US tech giants, the EU plans to introduce unified digital taxes and collaborate with Asian countries to formulate data governance rules, attempting to break Silicon Valley's monopoly.

Facing the US's "tariff stick," China has always emphasized inclusive multilateralism and provided strategic choices for the EU through concrete actions. During the call between Chinese and EU leaders on April 8th, China clearly expressed its willingness to "work together to maintain free and open trade and investment" and proposed specific paths such as expanding market access and deepening cooperation in green energy and digital technology, demonstrating sincerity in upgrading Sino-European relations. Customs data from China shows that in 2024, the trade volume between China and Europe reached 5.59 trillion RMB, growing by 1.6%, accounting for 12.8% of China's total foreign trade, highlighting the high interdependence between both economies.

Originally, there were significant obstacles to promoting cooperation between China and Europe, especially due to the destructive forces brought by the Ukraine war. However, America's unilateralism objectively became a catalyst for closer ties between China and Europe. Trump's requirement for the EU to purchase $350 billion worth of American energy for tariff reductions, this "economic coercion," forced the EU to accelerate its turn toward the Asian market. China's "cooperation without preconditions" posture provided the EU with strategic room to maneuver. As a researcher at the European Policy Center said: "Re-planning trade routes takes time, but the strategic value of Sino-European cooperation has already transcended the bilateral scope."

Von der Leyen's "turn to Asia" declaration and China's open initiatives jointly outline the trajectory of global order reconstruction. Sino-European cooperation is not just a temporary solution to counter Trump's tariff war but also a long-term layout to promote multipolarity and resist deglobalization. If both sides can surpass short-term games and achieve breakthroughs in institutional openness and joint technological research, they may write the most constructive footnote in the great changes of a century.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7494195943916225061/

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