China, EU remain major trading partners despite decoupling, de-risking talks

BEIJING -- Trade between the European Union (EU) and China has grown in recent years despite talks of "decoupling" from or "de-risking" economic links with China, a sign that China's market still maintains an allure for European businesses due to its vast potential and size.

Eurostat data show the value of European imports from China nearly doubled between 2018 and 2022. During the first half of 2023, China remained the leading supplier of goods to the EU, said an analysis by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Throughout this period, imports of products such as phones, computers, and machinery all saw significant increases.

With both Europe and China sharing consensus on tackling climate change, Chinese electric vehicles have rapidly expanded their presence in the European market. Three of the top-selling electric car models in Europe in 2022 were of Chinese origin.

Official statistics show that trade between China and the EU reached $847.3 billion in 2022, a 2.4-percent increase over the previous year. China and the EU are each other's main trading partner, with rapid growth in the trade of lithium batteries, electric vehicles, photovoltaic modules, and other green products.

All these figures prove that a growing list of European enterprises view China as a robust partner.

Ola Kaellenius, chairman of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz, said in a July interview with German weekly Automobilwoche that China, the world's largest automobile market, would be at the core of the company's marketing activities starting from 2025.

"Investing in China is investing in the future," said Jean-Paul Agon, president of L'Oreal France, in a written interview with Xinhua. He emphasized that with an open market, an improving business environment, and promising initiatives to stimulate domestic demand, China presents new opportunities for the world and vice versa.

He also noted that China is a strategic growth driver for L'Oreal, as "China is more than just a large market. It is the laboratory of the most innovative concepts and the testing ground for the latest marketing practices, where the future of beauty is born."

Several European business leaders warned of the "de-risking" narrative.

Belen Garijo, chief executive of Germany's leading science and technology group Merck, said that severing commercial ties with China would come with a substantial economic cost. She hoped tensions between China and some Western countries could be eased through dialogue.

"Globalization has brought well-being to the world, with more innovation and cooperation, but we risk losing it," Garijo warned.

Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, also said in a July interview with The Financial Times that Europe cannot reduce risk by isolating itself. European countries should not speculate on the risks of doing business in China; instead, they should invest more in enhancing competitiveness, Hartung added.

European researchers have clarified the underlying logic behind the Europe-China partnership.

Maria Joao Rodrigues, president of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies, said that China and Europe are more strategic partners than "systemic rivals." They should collaborate in reestablishing global rules, particularly in areas such as combating climate change, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. In recent years, China has advanced initiatives on global security and development, where Europe and China can enhance cooperation.

Similarly, The Financial Times cautioned in early August that it would be challenging for Europe to sever or reduce ties with such an important trading partner as China, which accounts for 14 percent of global exports.

Likewise, German weekly magazine Focus noted that the Western economy adheres to its own rules when US President Joe Biden continues to announce restriction after restriction against China. Europe now understands the meaning of "decoupling," and the European economy is "decoupled" from American political directives rather than being "decoupled" from China, as the United States desires, the article concluded.