- Europe’s leaders are clear-eyed about the threat China poses to the continent’s industry, political economy and security. But to date, they have responded one tariff, one sector and one security restriction at a time.
- These measures show Beijing exactly where to apply pressure to deter an effective response from Europe.
- Instead, the EU needs to turn its system into its power. It should adopt six conditions for single-market access built on transparency, fair competition and reciprocity.
- In the years it takes the EU to build these instruments, the bloc should use the many tools it already has in a “swarm”.
- Each measure alone would be too small to warrant retaliation from Beijing. But together they would defend the single market and reduce critical dependencies, thereby creating space for negotiation.
- If China did retaliate, the EU would gain the political justification and the legal flexibility to take stronger, more lasting measures. In short, Europe’s era of acquiescence is over.
About the Author:
Andrew Small is Director of the Asia Programme, ECFR