Commercial dispute, hard competition, unfair treatment: From the perspective of the EU Chamber of Commerce, a lot has to change for European companies in China in the coming years.
The People’s Republic exports at an undiminished speed, but there is little importing, said President Jens Eskelund in Beijing. The imbalance continues to grow, the trade from the perspective of the EU chamber turns into a “one-way street”.
China’s trading partners could ask: “What do we really have from it,” said Eskelund. The advocacy in China of more than 1,600 member companies from the EU therefore calls for changes in a position paper.
The 15th five -year plan, which the Communist Party discusses in October at the “fourth plenary”, is given the occasion. In March 2026, the People’s Congress is scheduled to approve this plan for the period until 2030.
Handel only one -way street for China?
According to the EU Chamber, China’s surplus could react to other countries. “I think what we have seen in the United States case is a situation in which the imbalance grew in such a way that a reaction was forced,” said Eskelund. Consequences such as the escalated customs dispute have created “never -for -existent uncertainties” for Chinese and foreign companies in China, the report said.
The chamber demands that China allow advantages in retail for both sides. Beijing should refrain from export controls, as with rare earths, that many European companies bring in delivery worries. According to information from the EU Chamber, at least seven member companies experienced production stops in August because of the bottlenecks. The export controls cost millions of euros, said the general secretary of the EU Chamber, Adam Dunnett. In addition, not only Chinese products should be preferred in public tenders, as the report says.
Tough competition and overproduction
What the situation is worrying: China produces more than its own country can absorb. In the case of electric cars or delivery services, such a violent displacement competition rages that Beijing has already spoken. In addition, there is a high debt of local governments and the lack of focus on sectors such as the service industry. Beijing should solve these problems and also improve social security, the chamber said.
According to this, EU companies have been worried about China’s slower economic growth for years. In addition, the Chinese seem to keep their money together due to costs for social security.
Chamber: private companies do better
The EU Chamber insists that market mechanisms decide where to invest. So far, the state has preferred its corporations – at the expense of the private sector, which according to Eskelund actually operates more efficiently. If there were more competition with foreign private companies in the state -dominated healthcare system, patients could benefit from better care and new technology, he cited as an example.