EU warns China that European public could turn more protectionist if trade deficit isn't reduced
The European Union’s top foreign policy official has warned that public sentiment in Europe could turn more protectionist if the bloc's trade deficit with China is not reduced
BEIJING (AP) — The European Union's top foreign policy official warned Friday that public sentiment in Europe could turn more protectionist if the region's trade deficit with China is not reduced.
Josep Borrell, the EU high representative for foreign affairs, called for improved access for European companies that want to export to or invest in China. He said that political leaders in Europe could face pressure from voters to disengage from the world's second-largest economy.
“And we don’t want to disengage and much less, much less, to decouple from China,” Borrell said in a speech at Peking University, one of China's top schools.
The EU trade deficit with China topped $17 billion in September, bringing the total for the first nine months of the year to $170 billion, according to Chinese trade figures released Friday.
