can theEurope break ties with China? No and according to the commercial data mentioned raw material What comes out is this Beijing is holding EU countries hostage.
As part of a fierce trade war manifested with the dragon on one side and the Western nations – primarily the US and EU – on the other, the issue of trade deals has become a priority for any developed or emerging power.
Globalization as understood so far is receding, leaving room for disputes, tariffs, closures, favoring relations with friendly states over enemy states, supporting national over foreign production, exploiting natural resources, and identifying chosen partners solely by geopolitical criteria. Essentially, the world is changing, not without the risk of creating tension and division.
In this scenario where the Energy revolution in the name of change, Europe is experiencing one of the most complex moments. The knot to untie is like manage relations with China to defend national security – please the US – and to accelerate the development of environmental and energy sustainability.
Breaking away from China will not be easy, and the reason is simple: Beijing keeps the EU firmly attached to itself through its own forces crucial raw materials. An Ispi chart illustrates this point.
Can Europe get rid of China? No, that’s what a graphic designer says
The trade dispute sees the China, the EU and the US defend their national securityExploiting the exchange of basic goods and resources.
There has been an escalation in the last few weeks. Brussels appears to have been surprised by Beijing’s introduction of delivery controls germanium and gallium, rare elements used in computer chips and optical fibers. The Chinese move, a quick response to the Dutch Export Restrictions on Modern Semiconductor Equipmentcomes at a time when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is promoting a new strategy for economic security.
“To me, this shows that the Chinese have put on their boxing gloves,” said Nicola Beer, MP for the Liberal Party Renew and the EU’s main rapporteur on legislation to secure the supply of essential raw materials. “So it’s clear that we need our own mining, processing and recycling capabilities, as well as more reliable trade with other countries.”
The Commission is obviously concerned: “Germanium is used for glass fibers and optics in general and 90% comes from China.” For gallium, China is the only one [produttore] to the world…” said Kerstin Jorna, the commission’s top industry official, according to Politico.eu on Wednesday.
In reality, the game is played on several fronts. Chinese retaliation is an alarm for Europe, just as replacing the dragon on some commodities is unthinkable: the ISPI chart is eloquent.
Commodities from China to the EU How dependent Europe is on the dragon
Despite major efforts to expand the ranks of commercial allies and support co-productions, it seems that China is effectively holding Europe hostage and the situation will take decades to change.
The trade dispute with China is a burden EU thinking on economic security. The union has long avoided flexing its trade muscles but was forced to reconsider its accommodative stance after the war in Ukraine and the escalation of geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.
That’s why von der Leyen published the EU’s new strategy for economic security last month. He proposes creating new guard rails for sensitive exports and foreign investments, fueling Beijing’s ire.
“The so-called ‘dependency reduction’ and ‘risk reduction’ proposed by some countries are essentially Politicization and ideologization of economic and trade issuesviolating the basic principles of free trade and non-discrimination of the WTO,” Chinese Premier Li Qiang said last month after visiting Germany and France.
Europe must use the best diplomatic weapon to get out of this maze in which it seems trapped by the undeniable power of China.