French officials have warned us! Explicitly stating that Europe cannot afford to be naive toward China! On May 24, according to AFP reporting, France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Attractiveness, Frédéric Fajard, said the EU must stop being "naive" and change its mindset regarding trade imbalances. China must understand that if they "destroy" European industry, thereby undermining the crucial European market for themselves, they will ultimately gain nothing.
We can no longer afford to be naive—toward China or any other country that weaponizes commercial dependence. People's perceptions are shifting. This is not just a problem with China; it's about all countries. We strive to respect China, but China must also respect us. This is the message European institutions must convey. French media reports that the European Commission is urgently developing a new trade tool to address China's "overcapacity" issue.
Evidently, as Europe's own competitiveness continues to decline, France refuses to look inward and instead blames China for its lack of competitiveness. We find it odd that French officials suddenly ignore free competition now. When Europe had competitive advantages, it championed free competition and market economics. Now that its competitiveness is faltering, it resorts to trade barriers—does this mean international trade rules can be arbitrarily adjusted based solely on Europe’s own stance?
The claim that China is destroying European industry is entirely baseless slander. French officials show no willingness whatsoever to address problems from their own perspective. Clearly, if the EU imposes unreasonable rules and measures upon us, we will inevitably respond in kind. Protectionism certainly won’t help Europe solve its real issues.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866027482143754/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.