EPP drafts strategy to boost EU trade leverage with China without sparking confrontation
The European People's Party is preparing a paper that urges tougher use of EU trade tools against China while keeping dialogue open and avoiding a full trade war.
The European People's Party, the EU’s largest political grouping, is drafting a position paper that seeks a calibrated shift in relations with China. The document proposes a more forceful application of the bloc’s trade defence mechanisms and the creation of new tools to counter what it sees as unfair Chinese competition, while insisting that measures remain proportionate and reversible. It calls for a broader rebalancing of trade and investment, tighter export controls, stronger intellectual-property protection, and reforms to the World Trade Organisation.
To reduce dependence on Beijing, the paper urges diversification of supply chains and the ratification of free-trade agreements with regions including Mercosur, India, Indonesia and Australia. It also recommends tighter customs checks and better oversight of e-commerce platforms. The draft, prepared by EPP MEPs on the International Trade Committee, is slated for completion in mid-October, before the upcoming European Council summit.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTCentrist coverage presents the EPP draft as a balanced, calibrated approach to strengthen EU trade leverage with China while keeping measures proportionate and avoiding confrontation, whereas right-leaning coverage portrays the EU’s move as a necessary tough stance against a threatening China seeking global dominance and emphasizes risks of economic weaponisation.
CENTER
Centrist coverage frames the EPP draft as a balanced, calibrated approach to boost EU trade leverage with China while insisting on proportionate, reversible measures and avoiding confrontation.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage frames the EU's action as a necessary tough stance against a threatening, expansionist China, highlighting economic weaponisation and the need for safeguards.
The right emphasises
- "China aims to dominate a new global order based on its own values and Communist Party rule"
- surging Chinese exports are pressuring European manufacturers and widening a daily €1 billion trade deficit
- citing the risk of "economic weaponisation" and calling for less dependence on Chinese raw materials and semiconductors
Possibly left out
- Right-leaning coverage reports China aims to dominate a new global order based on its own values and Communist Party rule, absent from centrist coverage.
- Centrist coverage reports proposals for tighter export controls, stronger intellectual-property protection and WTO reforms, absent from right-leaning coverage.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 EU ministers clash over budget cuts as frugal states demand higher ambition
- Sep 3 Donald Trump said Spain is becoming a ruined nation because of the migrant surge at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
- Sep 4 EU leaders will hear Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech, where climate policy is expected to feature after a scorching summer.
- Sep 6 Von der Leyen will address climate issues in her September 16 State of the Union speech.
- Sep 7 Trump’s latest comments added a new criticism of Spain’s immigration handling since his earlier “ruined country” statement.
- Sep 12 The German chancellor’s meeting brought frugal leaders together and featured Draghi’s call for higher borrowing, adding a new dimension to the budget dispute.
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