Europe's China Policy at a Critical Juncture

Europe's China Policy at a Critical Juncture

July 7, 2026 · 33 min · Episode 128

About this episode

The episode discusses the complexities of Europe-China relations and the EU's policy direction at a critical moment.

In today’s episode, we’ll examine the state of Europe-China relations and the trajectory of the EU’s policy toward China at a pivotal moment. The EU-China relationship has become increasingly complex and contentious. The growing trade imbalance is among the top priority issues: The EU had a record trade deficit in goods with China of 360 billion Euros last year. China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine also remains a major concern. At the same time, uncertainty in the transatlantic relationship has prompted debate across Europe about strategic autonomy, de-risking, and whether the EU should recalibrate its approach toward Beijing. We'll discuss the outcomes of the recent European Council meeting, debates taking place within Europe, and what we should expect in EU-China relations going forward. To make sense of where EU policy toward China is headed, we are joined by Noah Barkin, Visiting Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, Senior Advisor at Rhodium Group, and author of the fantastic Watching China in Europe newsletter, which you can read on Substack.

People in this episode

Guest: Noah Barkin

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: German Marshall Fund, Rhodium Group

Places: Europe, China, EU

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