China in the crosshairs as EU launches sweeping plans to save its industrial future
March 4, 2026 at 01:28 PM
By Finbarr Bermingham
The European Union unveiled a sweeping raft of policies on Wednesday aimed at kick-starting its sluggish industry and protecting its critical infrastructure.
A common thread through each is that the screws will be turned ever tighter on Chinese firms in Europe.
Combined, the proposals reveal anxiety over the bloc’s ability to compete with cut-price and increasingly high-quality Chinese products, the heightened security fears connected to Chinese investments, and a new-found urgency to do...
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The European Union unveiled a sweeping raft of policies on Wednesday aimed at kick-starting its sluggish industry and protecting its critical infrastr The European Union unveiled a sweeping raft of policies on Wednesday aimed at kick-starting its sluggish industry and protecting its critical infrastr Monitor developments in China for further updates.
📋 Quick Summary
The European Union unveiled a sweeping raft of policies on Wednesday aimed at kick-starting its slug
The European Union unveiled a sweeping raft of policies on Wednesday aimed at kick-starting its sluggish industry and protecting its critical infrastructure.
A common thread through each is that the screws will be turned ever tighter on Chinese firms in Europe.
Combined, the proposals reveal anxiety over the bloc’s ability to compete with cut-price and increasingly high-quality Chinese products, the heightened security fears connected to Chinese investments, and a new-found urgency to do...
AdvertisementChina-EU relationsChinaDiplomacyChina in the crosshairs as EU launches sweeping plans to save its industrial futureProposals reveal EU anxiety over competing with Chinese products, security fears linked to Chinese investments and urgency to act5-MIN READ5-MINFinbarr Berminghamin BrusselsPublished: 9:28pm, 4 Mar 2026The European Union unveiled a sweeping raft of policies on Wednesday aimed at kick-starting its sluggish industry and protecting its critical infrastructure.A common thread through each is that the screws will be turned ever tighter on Chinese firms in Europe.Combined, the proposals reveal anxiety over the bloc’s ability to compete with cut-price and increasingly high-quality Chinese products, the heightened security fears connected to Chinese investments, and a new-found urgency to do something about both.AdvertisementThe Industrial Accelerator Act, which was proposed to great fanfare, is a political bombshell that blows away decades of adherence to free trade and laissez-faire economics.It aims to increase manufacturing’s contribution to the EU economy from 14.3 per cent in 2024 to 20 per cent by 2035. Production volumes are estimated to have fallen by almost 20 per cent since 2019, much of it lost to China.AdvertisementStephane Sejourne, the EU’s industry chief, underscored the drastic shift.“What I’m talking to you about isn’t just a change in our modus operandi – it’s actually a change in doctrine. This is something that was unthinkable even just a few months ago,” Sejourne said at a press conference in Brussels.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x
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