China urges Europe to strengthen ties amid U.S. policy uncertainty
China has called on the European Union to make a “rational choice” by deepening its ties with Beijing in light of growing uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policies, according to an editorial published by the state-run Global Times.
The statement comes as EU Trade Chief Maros Sefcovic visits Beijing following his trip to the United States earlier this week. His visit aims to ease tensions that escalated after both sides threatened retaliatory tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods.
On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on imported vehicles, a move that is expected to hit European automakers hard, particularly German manufacturers, which rely on the U.S. market for nearly a quarter of their exports. In response, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized the decision, calling it “bad for businesses, worse for consumers,” while emphasizing the EU’s commitment to protecting its economic interests through diplomatic means.
The Global Times editorial positioned China as a stable and reliable economic partner for Europe amid the shifting global landscape. “As the uncertainty of U.S. policy increases, China, as a major global power, is becoming increasingly prominent for its stability and reliability,” the editorial stated.
During his visit, Sefcovic is expected to address concerns over trade imbalances between the EU and China, as well as longstanding issues affecting European businesses operating in China. These include restricted access to procurement opportunities, market entry barriers, and cross-border data transfer regulations, according to Jens Eskelund, President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.
Despite these challenges, Sefcovic is also likely to highlight the importance of strengthening EU-China relations, particularly given that the EU Single Market is a major destination for Chinese exports. Speaking at a European Chamber event in Beijing, Sefcovic stressed the need to “reset and focus engagement on delivering tangible rebalancing in vital sectors of our economy,” in a message posted on X.
Several senior European officials are in China this week, including the foreign ministers of France and Portugal. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a meeting with his Portuguese counterpart, reiterated Beijing’s support for Europe’s “strategic autonomy” and pledged to work toward enhancing China-EU ties.
The Global Times editorial urged Europe to adopt a pragmatic approach and develop a more balanced relationship with China, stating, “Facing a rapidly changing international landscape, Europe should adopt a pragmatic approach and develop its relations with China in a more balanced way, making a rational choice to turn further towards China.”
Source: Reuters
