According to Politico, China's commitment to respond commensurate with US additional tariffs could put the EU in a similar situation to the trade war during President Donald Trump's first term.
At that time, Chinese goods may quickly flood into other markets, including the EU, due to barriers to access the US market. This increases the risk of a deeper global trade war.
To guard against this risk, on April 8, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen held a phone call with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, discussing the establishment of a mechanism to monitor the possibility of trade diversion and ensure that all developments are handled promptly.
Ms. von der Leyen said that China plays a key role in controlling the risk of trade diversion due to the impact of tariffs, especially in sectors that have been pressured by global excess manufacturing capacity.
Politico said that if diplomatic efforts with China fail, the EU could be forced to take self-defense measures, including special tariffs to prevent sudden inflows of goods to Europe.
Although trade relations between the EU and China are not considered smooth, in the face of US tariff policies, Ms. von der Leyen called on both sides to join hands to build a strong, fair global trade system based on the principle of equal competition.
President von der Leyen said that the important moment for coordination between the two sides in the context of global trade tensions will fall in July, and expressed hope that the summit with China could take place at this time.
However, information about the July summit was not specifically released, only mentioned at the end of the call summary between EC Chairman Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Previously, public opinion had predicted the conference would take place in May.
The European Commission's key spokeswoman, Paula Pinho, later refused to confirm the specific time, but in a recent regular press conference, she said July was the expected time frame.
