France, Germany call for new weapon allowing ‘immediate cut off’ of China from EU market
Strategy laid out in joint paper and letter to EU chief signed by the leaders of the two largest members of the bloc and seen by the SCMP
The tool would effectively act as a kill switch, allowing Brussels to respond rapidly to systemic distortions, potentially immediately. It would grant dramatic new powers to the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, which manages trade policy for the 27-member union.
The strategy was laid out in a joint paper written by the bloc’s two largest members, as well as a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen – both of which have been seen by the South China Morning Post – ahead of a crucial period of EU-China negotiations.
