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China-EU Relations Strained as China Makes it Difficult for EU to Deepen Ties

2024-07-07 13:57:03.354000

The recent China-EU summit, the first in-person meeting since 2019, did not produce any major outcomes and was marked by pessimistic statements from the European side. The grievances include concerns about market access, dumping, and China's support for Russia. The EU has expressed concerns about China's behavior and its impact on the relationship. The summit was seen as an opportunity for the EU to raise these concerns and push for a more balanced and fair relationship with China. However, the lack of progress has raised doubts about the future of China-Europe relations [99335377].

In an interview with Theresa Fallon, founder and director of CREAS in Brussels, she provides insights into the summit outcomes and the challenges facing the China-EU relationship. Fallon highlights the issues of market access and dumping as major concerns for the EU. She also mentions China's increasing military capabilities and dominance in the rare earths industry as factors that contribute to the complexity of the relationship. Fallon emphasizes the need for the EU to take a strong stance and protect its own interests in dealing with China [99335377].

The article also mentions China's support for Russia as a point of contention in the China-EU relationship. The EU has urged China to stop backing Russia and to curtail the supply of technologies used by Russia to manufacture weapons. This issue has further strained the already tense relationship between the EU and China. The EU is concerned about the implications of China's support for Russia's war in Ukraine and its impact on European security [9359cf53] [99335377].

According to a recent survey by the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), most European CEOs believe that China-Europe relations will deteriorate in the next three years. The survey found that 54% of respondents believe that the relationship will worsen, while only 7% believe it will improve. The EU's risk mitigation strategy and Beijing's close relationship with Moscow are seen as the main friction factors. The EU is China's largest export market for goods, while China is the EU's third-largest export market. The survey also found that overall, European CEOs are more optimistic about the business environment compared to six months ago, but most of the optimism comes from prospects outside of Europe [c51dabb3].

In a recent interview, EU ambassador Jorge Toledo accused China of making it 'very difficult' for the European Union to deepen its exchanges with Beijing. People-to-people exchanges between China and the EU have not recovered since the pandemic and are 'very far' off from pre-pandemic levels. Tensions between the EU and China have increased, particularly over the EU's decision to impose tariffs on Chinese electric cars and China's ambivalent response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Toledo also criticizes China for not attending the Ukraine peace summit and states that China's absence has damaged its image. The EU ambassador calls for improved mutual trust and dialogue to resolve conflicts and prevent a large-scale trade war between China and Europe [4fb788e9] [99335377].

The article highlights the challenges and uncertainties surrounding China-Europe relations. The lack of progress in the recent summit and the pessimistic statements from the European side indicate a growing frustration with China's behavior. The EU is grappling with issues of market access, dumping, and China's support for Russia. These challenges, along with China's increasing military capabilities and dominance in the rare earths industry, make it difficult to salvage the China-Europe relationship. The future of the relationship remains uncertain, and the EU will need to carefully consider its approach to dealing with China [99335377].

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