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The European Commission has announced that it will propose tougher restrictions on Chinese imports beyond the safeguard measures it has agreed with Beijing to halve shipments of Chinese hybrid cars into the EU, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan on Friday after an EU summit. She said the Commission would propose additional safeguards beyond an agreement with Beijing to halve shipments of Chinese hybrid cars into the EU.
Von der Leyen said the agreement would not address the deeper problems affecting trade between both sides. The EU’s goods trade deficit with China has exceeded €1 billion ($1.12 billion) a day.
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“And this is why we need to act,” she said. “Our industries have called for action and we have heard them and we will respond, including some more safeguards.”
She added that EU leaders clearly supported further action to protect European industries.
French President Emmanuel Macron also urged the bloc to consider stronger trade measures. Speaking after the summit, he said the EU should focus on imports of chemicals, plastics and ferro-alloys. Von der Leyen welcomed a proposal from France and Germany published last month. The paper called for a new rapid-response tool that would allow the EU to act against countries accused of harming its economy.
The Commission president said the EU would develop an instrument to quickly restrict access to its single market when doing so served the bloc’s interests. It will also propose a new tool in December to reduce EU companies’ reliance on single sources for certain critical supplies.
In addition, it plans to introduce a “solidarity mechanism” to support countries or economic sectors facing pressure or retaliation from outside the EU. The proposed measures come as the EU seeks to address its trade imbalance with China and protect industries facing growing competition from Chinese imports.
