As China reaches out for help in trade war, European Union finds itself caught in the crossfire
China seeks the support of the EU, which shares both Beijing’s concerns about protectionism and Washington’s objections to Chinese business practices
China has reached out for Europe’s support in its growing trade war with the US, leaving the European Union at risk of getting entangled in a conflict with repercussions around the world.
The EU is caught in a bind: It shares many of Washington’s grievances with Beijing’s trade practises, but is also under a threat of protectionist measures ordered up by US President Donald Trump.
In a rare diplomatic plea, China on Friday called on the EU to take a joint stand against US protectionism after Trump warned that he could slap another US$100 billion of extra tariffs on China’s imports.
“China and the EU … should take a clear stance against protectionism, jointly preserve the rules-based multilateral trade order, and keep the global economy on a sound and sustainable track,” Zhang Ming, the head of the Chinese mission to the EU, said in a statement.
“This is a joint responsibility of China and the EU. We must act together to make that happen,” Zhang said.
The EU declined to respond directly to the envoy’s invitation, insisting only that trade conflicts should be resolved at the World Trade Organisation, the Geneva-based body set up to resolve disputes.