BEIJING — Supply chain diversification away from China is about to move from just talk to action.
That’s what Jens Eskelund, president, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the launch of a report on supply chain risks, and as businesses look ahead to the new year after a tumultuous 2025.
“Dependencies are being discussed in much more detail than they were before ... Are we even sure Europe can manufacture toothpaste without ingredients sourced in China?” Eskelund said.
Reflecting continued global demand, China’s trade surplus for the year through November reached a record $1 trillion, according to official figures released Monday. That means the country exported far more than it imported, despite U.S. tariffs.
“The higher that production goes up, the higher the risk that countries will begin to react,” Eskelund said. He pointed out China faced a record high of 198 World Trade Organization trade investigations last year, well over half of which were from developing countries.
