EU warns of mounting trade deficit and competition from China

European Commission executive vice‑president Stéphane Séjourné told Le Monde that the EU is currently a “prey” of China’s industrial and commercial power. He said China records a €1 billion daily trade surplus with the bloc, endangering 29 million European jobs and could push the EU’s overall deficit to €500 billion by 2027. France alone posted a €46.4 billion trade gap with China in 2024.

A senior consultant at Kreab International echoed the shift in perception, saying the EU now regards China as a “formidable competitor” rather than a partner, especially in green‑technology sectors such as electric vehicles, batteries, wind and solar power. The Commission is tightening rules, for example reviewing JD.com’s €2.2 billion bid for Germany’s Ceconomy and banning Chinese solar inverters in EU‑funded projects, while seeking new trade partnerships with Australia, India, Mercosur and CPTPP members to reduce economic vulnerability.