The European Union is shifting its trade policy toward a model of "economic security," prioritizing industrial resilience and strategic autonomy. This strategic pivot follows a period of trade imbalances, with the Chinese trade surplus reaching 360 billion euros in 2025. The bloc is now strengthening its arsenal of trade defense and economic security to protect its internal market.
From Open Trade to Economic Security
The EU’s relationship with China is undergoing a major transformation: from a logic based on economic openness, Europeans now seem to prioritize economic security, industrial resilience, and strategic autonomy. This shift is highlighted by reports such as that from the Haut-commissariat au Plan led by Clément Beaune.
This trend has prompted Brussels to adopt a more defensive stance. The concern over the Chinese trade surplus and Beijing’s growing dominance in strategic sectors is leading European decision-makers to be more defensive.
The Impact of Chinese Industrial Expansion
The expansion of Chinese manufacturing capacity, particularly in the battery sector, is a factor in the current landscape. The presence of companies like CATL, which has a factory in Debrecen, Hungary, illustrates the complexity of the current landscape.
The EU has responded by strengthening its trade defense arsenal.
Structural Challenges Within the EU
Philippe Le Corre, a professor of geopolitics at Essec, argues that the rise of China constitutes an external challenge, but also a revealer of European structural weaknesses.
Key Takeaways
- Trade Deficit: The EU faces a significant trade imbalance with China, with a Chinese trade surplus of 360 billion euros in 2025, which is a driver of its more defensive trade policy.
- Strategic De-risking: The bloc is moving away from pure market openness toward a policy of economic security, industrial resilience, and strategic autonomy.
- Defensive Instruments: The EU has progressively reinforced its trade defense and economic security arsenal.
- Internal Focus: Experts emphasize that the rise of China reveals structural weaknesses within the EU.
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