Manfred Weber, chief of the European People’s Party and a Vice Secretary of State from the CSU, is strongly advocating for Europe to adopt a significantly firmer stance in its trade competition with China. Speaking to “Bild am Sonntag”, the conservative leader stated that “the time of naivety is over,” insisting that European interests must be defended more clearly, more forcefully, and more consistently. He argued that it was finally time for Europe to start a new chapter in its relationship with China.
Weber stressed the grave economic dangers posed by the current situation, calling the massive trade deficit-estimated at “nearly one billion Euros per day”-“no longer sustainable.” According to him, this persistent imbalance is threatening European economies, industrial foundations, and high-quality jobs. He warned that Europe has a critical choice: either push back decisively or face the risk of Chinese companies undermining major parts of European industry. The EU must now utilize its trade instruments resolutely and without hesitation. Weber cited the recent implementation of protective tariffs on Chinese vehicles, which occurred despite criticism from Germany as an example of necessary action, adding that “we see today that we need even more such protection measures.”
This strong appeal comes amid a growing debate within Brussels, recently driven largely by France. At the upcoming EU summit scheduled for June 18, European leaders will deliberate on specific actions-such as new tariffs-that have been drafted by the Commission.
While acknowledging that access to the European single market is of “enormous importance” to China, Weber sees this very dependency as a powerful lever in favour of Brussels. He maintains that Europe must use this leverage to enforce fair competition, asserting that Chinese companies must align themselves with EU standards for future exports. He stated that there should be no entry into the European market without meeting established European rules.
Furthermore, he called for a halt to using European tax money to benefit the Chinese economy. “European development aid funded by taxpayers must not benefit Chinese companies,” Weber insisted. He pointed out that Europe frequently assigns EU-funded international projects to Chinese businesses, a practice he demands be ended immediately. Finally, advocating for digital sovereignty, Weber proposed excluding China from the pan-European buildout of 6G technology, asserting that only European firms should be involved in developing and implementing critical digital infrastructure across the continent.
