Whatever happens in Trump’s White House, EU and China to remain rivals, top envoy says

Without changes from Beijing, tensions over Ukraine war and economic competition unlikely to improve, bloc’s ambassador warns

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EU ambassador to China Jorge Toledo speaks at the 9th China Global Think Tank Innovation Forum in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Handout

Published: 8:00pm, 4 Dec 2024Updated: 8:00pm, 4 Dec 2024

The EU’s trade tensions and rivalry with China are likely to persist, Brussels’ top envoy to Beijing said on Wednesday amid speculation that Trump 2.0 could shake up EU-China ties.

EU ambassador Jorge Toledo said in Beijing that he did not expect Donald Trump’s return to the White House to cause the European Union to change its view of China as a cooperation partner, economic competitor and systemic rival.

“I think this is a fair description, and I don’t think it will change naturally,” Toledo said at an event organised by the Centre for China and Globalisation.

In the speech at the China Global Think Tank Innovation Forum, Toledo addressed the intensifying trade row between Brussels and Beijing, saying the EU “clearly believes that we are not competing fairly”, which has led to trade measures against China.

The bloc imposed additional tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in October, citing state subsidies that gave Chinese manufacturers an unfair competitive edge.

There have been suggestions that Trump might push the EU closer to China by imposing tariffs on the bloc or force the EU to adopt a harder stance on Beijing.