European leaders express concern over rising Chinese exports and consider trade measures

China’s goods trade surplus with the European Union reached €360.6 billion ($414 billion) in 2025, a 15% increase from 2024, with the gap expanding by 10% in the first four months of 2026.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for protective measures akin to the US Section 301 tariffs, supported by Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, and Belgium, to address the trade imbalance.
The EU has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and launched anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations, but these measures have been slow and apply globally, risking collateral damage to other trade partners.
European officials remain cautious about aggressive action due to fears of Chinese retaliation and are focusing on dialogue and proposing laws to diversify supply chains.
China’s export surge, including higher-end industrial goods, is threatening European industries amid a global trade regime in flux and ongoing US-China trade tensions.
The EU faces pressure to act more decisively, with proposals to require companies to diversify supply chains and reduce over-reliance on China, though progress has been slow.