EU policy shift may spell trade trouble

The European Union's evolving trade policy, from "de-risking" to measures more oriented toward "decoupling", has raised concerns about increased friction with China, particularly as the bloc seeks closer alignment with the United States to avoid trans-Atlantic tensions, according to market watchers and exporters.

Such a shift, they said, could lead to a growing number of trade remedy actions against Chinese products, further weakening the authority of the World Trade Organization and casting a shadow over the future of China-EU economic and trade cooperation.

After the EU included certain Chinese companies and financial institutions in its 18th round of sanctions against Russia last week, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday that China would take necessary steps to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its businesses.