IN BRIEF
President Xi Jinping’s May 2024 European tour prompted the continent to confront China’s economic influence and its strategic partnership with Russia. Amid China’s massive industrial policy and rapidly increasing green tech exports, the European Union is seeking to protect its own internal market. The European Union has already issued warnings of sanctions against Chinese exporters and has implemented countervailing duties on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). Xi’s trip highlighted the complex geopolitical environment that shapes EU–China relations, reaffirming Europe’s shift towards protective measures and cautious engagement with China.
About the Author
Alicia García Herrero is a Senior fellow at Bruegel. She is the Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at French investment bank Natixis, based in Hong Kong and is an independent Board Member of AGEAS insurance group. Alicia also serves as a non-resident Senior fellow at the East Asian Institute (EAI) of the National University Singapore (NUS). Alicia is also Adjunct Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Finally, Alicia is a Member of the Council of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation (FUF), a Member of the Board of the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI), a member of the Council of Advisors on Economic Affairs to the Spanish Government, a member of the Advisory Board of the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) and an advisor to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s research arm (HKIMR).