European Council: the EU’s latest moves amid tariffs on China and the situation in Ukraine
The EU-27 are rallying to respond to Beijing, with greater difficulty in reaching a consensus on Kyiv’s accession and the negotiations with Moscow
by Beda Romano
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FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
BRUSSELS – Buoyed by the recent G7 summit, where the European Union defended its interests regarding Ukraine, the EU-27 intend to make the most of the two-day European Council meeting which opened today, 18 June, to attempt to strengthen the EU’s position on the international stage, in particular by adopting a more combative and less naive stance towards China regarding economic imbalances, and by relaunching the enlargement process with Kyiv, partly to play a role in any future negotiations with Moscow.
Some particularly significant figures have been circulating for days. The trade deficit with China rose by 15 per cent year-on-year in 2025, to 360 billion euros. By now, all member states are having to contend with a trade deficit with China. On the other hand, China is a global producer of industrial goods, often subsidised by the state (see *Il Sole 24 Ore* of 13 May). Some member states, in particular Germany, are facing a real risk of deindustrialisation.
In today’s discussion, the leaders had set themselves a number of objectives: to draw up a shared analysis of the situation; to assess the tools available to counter China’s often unfair competition; and to provide guidance to the European Commission as far as possible. “China’s production overcapacity is clear to everyone,” explains a national diplomat. “We must, on the one hand, defend ourselves and, on the other, improve our competitiveness.”
The idea that has been circulating in recent days of devising new protectionist measures does not appear to be gaining traction. “It is more important to use the tools already on the table,” explained an EU official. Attention is turning to anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures, as well as safeguards against sudden surges in imports of certain products. European legislation also provides for anti-coercion measures, as well as measures against third-country investments in critical sectors.
