Europe's China Policy at a Critical Juncture

In today’s episode, we’ll examine the state of Europe-China relations and the trajectory of the EU’s policy toward China at a pivotal moment. The EU-China relationship has become increasingly complex and contentious. The growing trade imbalance is among the top priority issues: The EU had a record trade deficit in goods with China of 360 billion Euros last year. China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine also remains a major concern. At the same time, uncertainty in the transatlantic relationship has prompted debate across Europe about strategic autonomy, de-risking, and whether the EU should recalibrate its approach toward Beijing. We'll discuss the outcomes of the recent European Council meeting, debates taking place within Europe, and what we should expect in EU-China relations going forward.

To make sense of where EU policy toward China is headed, we are joined by Noah Barkin, Visiting Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, Senior Advisor at Rhodium Group, and author of the fantastic Watching China in Europe newsletter, which you can read on Substack.

Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:38] Partner, Competitor, and Systemic Rival: Accurate or Obsolete?
[03:36] How Europe is Responding to Trade Imbalances
[06:26] European Council Meeting Outcomes
[09:53] EU-China Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism
[12:30] Germany’s China Policy
[19:57] EU's Top Concerns About China
[23:45] Transatlantic Tensions Influencing EU-China Relations
[28:05] The Future of EU-China Relations