We don’t agree with Trump, but that doesn’t mean we want to gang up on America with China, says senior EU adviser ahead of summit
Head of Brussels group says trying to escalate international disputes could lead to ‘dire consequences’
The European Union is reluctant to “gang up” on America with China despite calls to provide a counterweight to Donald Trump’s protectionist policies, the head of an EU advisory body has said.
Luca Jahier, the president of the European Economic and Social Committee, told the South China Morning Post that the US still remains an important political and economic partner of the EU, even though the EU opposed Trump tariff measures.
Jahier said he strongly opposes protectionism, but escalating the situation would not be the appropriate response.
“We ought to be careful not to respond to aggressive behaviour with aggressive behaviour. I don’t believe trade wars can be resolved by [adopting] protectionist stances,” Jahier said ahead of Monday’s annual China-EU summit in Beijing.
“The European Union has already seen the dire consequences of those policies in the past, and has learned its lessons,” he added.