According to foreign media reports, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis began a two-day trade negotiation with China today (October 8) in Beijing, stating that the EU’s trade deficit with China is "unsustainable." On a social media platform, he wrote: “First day of my visit to China — one goal: addressing our unsustainable trade imbalance.”
From “decoupling” and “de-risking” to accusations of “overcapacity,” the recurring narrative around trade deficits and “unfair trade practices” has shifted its rhetoric over time, but the underlying logic remains protectionism.
Sino-European trade is fundamentally mutually beneficial. The root cause of Europe’s trade deficit with China lies in declining industrial competitiveness within Europe itself. Yet European policymakers focus narrowly on goods trade imbalances while ignoring substantial service trade surpluses and profits from investments in China—revealing a familiar pattern: when unable to compete, resort to economic coercion. Justifying protectionist measures under the broad banner of “national security” contradicts Europe’s stated commitment to free trade, ultimately increasing costs for European consumers and undermining progress toward green transformation. China has consistently opened channels for dialogue; cooperation and mutual benefit remain the only sustainable path forward.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878480596447248/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.