How Europe can win the trade war
The European Union and Donald Trump got off to an awkward start. Initially, the U.S. president seemed to want to take on the world, confronting China and his countrys longtime allies alike.
More recently, however, tensions between the U.S. and Europe have calmed — especially as Trump has turned his focus squarely on China. This provides the EU with an important opportunity it must not waste: to use the pressure on China to more clearly set the rules of engagement with Beijing.
There are many reasons why Trump may have shifted his crosshairs. They include worries about Beijings rise and the perception that competition from China has cost the U.S. jobs in important economic sectors.
Trump also seems to have realized that the EU remains an important ally — despite its trade surplus. European Commission President Jean-Claude Junckers diplomatic success has also helped — even if the truce remains fragile. The question now becomes: How can Europe benefit from the U.S.-China trade tensions?
Under pressure from the U.S., Beijing is set to be more open to making new allies.
At first blush, it doesnt look great. Trade wars arent just easy to lose, they also cause collateral damage to companies in third countries because of globally integrated supply chains. The German carmaker Daimler, for example, blamed a recent profit warning on the U.S.-China trade war, saying that it would make its exports more expensive.
But trade wars also create opportunities for companies and sectors in third countries. One might see European agriculture exports to China increase, for example, as they replace products once sourced from the U.S., and European companies manufacturing consumer goods could benefit from rising export opportunities in America.
But the trade war also offers Europe a far larger opportunity. Under pressure from the U.S., Beijing is set to be more open to making new allies.
So Trump has announced a 10 percent tariff on $200 billion-worth of imports from China, and threatened to increase that to 25 percent if Beijing does not end its “unfair” trading practices. China has, in turn, announced countertariffs on some $60 billion-worth of imports.
True, China is less vulnerable to a trade war than it would have been a few years ago, having rebalanced its economy away from exports. But Beijing cant afford having Japan, the U.S. and the EU form a united front as they recently did with a declaration on forced technology transfer that was clearly targeted at China.
A universe of Chinese-made goods is now subject to the sprawling tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump | Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Beijing is therefore actively reaching out to Brussels, trying to advance talks on bilateral investment and aiming to start negotiations on a trade agreement. China would also like to see the EU as a strategic partner in the World Trade Organization.
This gives EU officials an important opening. The blocs key interests are clear: China needs to open up its markets to more sectors.
European investment in China has been falling for years as market access has become more difficult. Europe needs to ensure that Beijing treats European companies on an equal footing to their domestic ones. It must also insist that it remove unfair subsidies delivered through state-owned banks and other companies.
China, of course, will not fundamentally alter its economic model. But theres reason to believe it is ready to make some concessions.
European leaders also need to work with Beijing to address concerns at home. As China has found it more difficult to invest in the U.S., it has moved its investment efforts to Europe — especially in cutting-edge technology.
European companies and politicians have observed this rise with mixed feelings. Of course, Chinese investment is welcome and can increase corporate profits, especially when access to Chinese markets is improved.
Its up to Europes leaders to formulate a unified strategic position and explore the opportunity.
But there is a clear worry that China uses market manipulation and subsidies to buy companies at unfair prices. Security concerns about sensitive technologies have also been raised. The EU needs to define its red lines on Chinese technology acquisition and enforce them more vigorously.
The overall upshot is clear. Whatever the economic spillover of the U.S.-China trade war, there is diplomatic advantage to be gained. Its up to Europes leaders to formulate a unified strategic position and explore the opportunity.
Guntram Wolff is the director of the think tank Bruegel.
[contf]
[contfnew]
