• EU leaders have asked the European Commission to develop a proposal by the end of the year for the new powers, which would be deployed in an extreme case where a rival was seen as attacking the EU's economy.
• The commission is also evaluating trade data to consider replicating a cap on hybrid car imports in other sectors where shipments from China may be surging, including chemicals and machinery.

The European Union is preparing to create new trade powers that could completely shut off access to its single market as part of a dramatic new push to cut the trade deficit with China.
EU leaders meeting in Brussels Thursday asked the European Commission, which handles trade matters for the bloc, to develop a proposal by the end of the year, according to people familiar with the matter. The powers would be deployed in an extreme case where a rival, such as China, was seen as attacking the EU’s economy.
“If China engages in certain unfair trade practices, we could restrict the entry of Chinese products into the European market, including a complete closure of our market,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters on the sidelines of the summit. “That would be an extreme measure, a drastic instrument.”

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As part of a rapidly expanding arsenal of trade powers, the commission has also begun evaluating trade data as a first step toward replicating a cap on hybrid car imports in other sectors where shipments from China — or other countries — may be surging, said a separate person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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The instrument that could be used to shut off access to the EU’s single market is seen as a so-called second-strike measure, the people familiar with the plans said. Its existence is intended to deter rivals from using unfair policies to weaken European companies or from starting a trade war against the EU with retaliatory measures.

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Good. They have been using the Eu as a dumping ground for a while.

Racist garden enjoyer has entered the chat.

In response, China countered by continuing to exist.

Dumping ground for the things that Europeans keep buying?

I was thinking more about heavy industry.

The chinese are making a big push to put the eu wind industry out of business by dumping wind turbines at below cost on the market. Once the eu manufacturers go out of business, they will then up the price and yet another market will be held hostage by the chinese.

Dumping ground for the things that Europeans the whole world keep buying.

This seems logical, but how do you place the case with solar? I think the same thing happened circa 2010, but solar is cheap today.

I mean, I'm all for developing and maintaining local innovative industries, but that's not what policy EU governments tend to enact. It most often devolves into some kind of protectionist infighting that revolves around expensively reinventing wheels.

This seems logical, but how do you place the case with solar?

I don't think you can equate the two. Anyone can buy solar and put it not their roofs, it's become more of a commodity.

While these giant wind turbines are more industrial infrastructure investment.

The chinese are making a big push to put the eu wind industry out of business by dumping wind turbines at below cost ...

Yes, but this isn't only limited to the wind industry but to all sectors. And, more importantly, China aims to use this later as leverage for all kinds of economic and political coercion trying to achieve other goals unrelated to these industries (Taiwan, Philippines, human rights, ...).

It's noteworthy that China is exploiting it's own labour force to produce cheap goods, which includes the use of forced labour and a 996 working culture that is widespread (despite it's illegal). Also, environmental regulations are very weak in China.

Is the tool called "incetivizing and supporting development of local manufacturing"? No? Then this won't solve anything and will only increase prices for customers - everything will still be made in china.

I buy things from china, yes. And I would love to be able to buy stuff made in EU, and I do for the things that are available. The big issue is that China is the world's factory, light years ahead of everyone else. The offerings are just incomparable.

This is a lukewarm performance that doesn't address the root problem.

Yeah, I've recently watched Smarter Every Day's videos on YouTube about completely building a scrubber in the US. It was almost impossible and in the end he had to build a part in Canada.

I think all the problems he highlights in the videos are the same in Europe. We simply don't have the tools and the knowledge required to manufacture products anymore.

I'm worried about surveillance by:

• Chinese phones with Android operating system from USA, able to listen to everyone.
• Most computers with American operating systems seeing what companies do.
• Chinese and American surveillance cars getting to record video of everything.

From this comment it's easy to infer that you didn't even click the link.

I skimmed the quote and didn't click the link. My comment isn't about trade, but what the trade tool should be used for.

Good. The practice of the Chinese taxpayer subsidizing the loss to monopolize industries must be stopped.

Why is china entitled to trade with the EU?

Does china restrict trade within its country?

Why is china racist?

why actually compete and innovate when you can just stifle the competition. it's the neoliberal way..

China is extracting money and knowlesge from the eu through state funded manufscturing programs.

Selling at a loss is not competing. It is strategic anti competition. These practices ensure we cant grow our industries here. Why are all our solar panels, inverters and batteries coming out of china? Because they are state funded manufacturers over there, subsidising cost.

Oh no, this is just the first step towards reciprocity. China has been shutting down its domestic markets since the CCP exists, and they have done a lot more to avoid any competition ...

so you're mad that china is actually investing in their country to improve things instead of selling out to corporations?

I'm not mad at all. China should invest in China.

Why are you looking for division. Converse.