European Chamber of Commerce Urges Balanced EU-China Trade

The European Chamber of Commerce in China is advocating for a balanced trade relationship between the European Union and China to mitigate rising tensions and a trade deficit that currently reaches nearly €1 billion per day. To address specific market access barriers and public procurement issues, the Chamber recently organized a matchmaking session in Shanghai involving more than 40 European medical device companies and 140 Chinese buyers.

Following more than 65 meetings with EU authorities in Brussels, the Chamber reported that European businesses are caught between Chinese authorities, who believe Europe does too little in China, and EU officials, who believe they do too much. The organization described the position of business people as being "between a rock and a hard place."

While the Chamber supports using trade instruments to diversify sourcing, it warns that excessive protectionism could increase costs for companies that re-export from China. The group continues to call for "straight talk" to improve the business environment and maintain economic stability for both regions, asserting that "Europe is not coming more protectionist."