As an October deadline looms, European Commission president signals readiness to use EU trade defence 'instruments' against Beijing
PARIS – Ursula von der Leyen warned China on Thursday that the EU was prepared to press the trigger on trade-defence measures if talks with Beijing fail to address mounting economic imbalances.
“Dialogue with China remains necessary. But it must produce results,” she told French business and political leaders gathered for the French employers federation’s (MEDEF) annual conference.
“And when dialogue is not enough, we must be ready to make full use of our instruments.”
Von der Leyen struck a measured tone, saying that China remained a “key economic partner” and reiterating the EU’s policy of “de-risking without breaking ties”. But she also painted a stark picture of a trading relationship increasingly tilted in Beijing’s favour.
