After reaching an agreement on Sunday in the luxury resort of the US President at Turnberry, Scotland, the chairwoman of the European Commission clearly stated – not mentioning the name of China – that Washington and Brussels must join forces to face the competition from the East.
“In terms of steel and aluminum, the European Union and the United States faces a common external challenge, which is the global surplus of production capacity,” she said, referring to excessive production of subsidized products such as steel, solar panels or batteries, by China. She added that when Washington and Brussels “cooperate as partners, the benefits are measurable to both sides.”
EU agreement with the USA, which stops Trump's threat regarding the increase in duties to most EU goods to 30 percent. From August 1, it was concluded a few days after the meeting of von der Leyen with the President of China XI Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang in Beijing, which was supposed to be an opportunity to celebrate, but ended completely differently.
After the one-day summit of the EU-China on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, von der Leyen said that the relations between the block and China reached the “turning point”.
“Trade must become more balanced,” she said, arguing that the EU will not be able to maintain open markets for Chinese exports, unless Beijing takes decisive actions on trade relations.
In his strategy aimed at winning the White House von der Leyen, from the belief of the transatlantist, in recent months gradually tightened her position towards Beijingwhich in response warned that he would take retaliation against every country that would conclude a trade agreement with the USA.
Continued article under video material
Before the EU-China summit, expectations regarding specific trade results were low, and some EU officials pointed out that in the current situation, the EU and China meeting itself is already an achievement. Just before the EU summit, she placed two Chinese banks on the list of the latest sanctions against Russia, which prompted Beijing to express “deep dissatisfaction and strong opposition” against this step, which he called “a serious mistake”.
Ultimately, the parties agreed to a mechanism that facilitates the acceleration of raw materials licenses, which was complained with many European enterprises in connection with the exacerbation of China's exacerbation of the export control of rare lands. However, no serious disputes were not resolved, Such as anti -ubian duties applied by the EU to Chinese electric vehicles or access to tenders for medical devices.
EU officials began to call the Chinese negotiating tactics “strategy of stinking fish” – consisting in the fact that Beijing intentionally causes new friction (i.e. so -smelling fish), which the EU must then remove through negotiations.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend
On Sunday, on the Scottish coast, the situation looked completely different.
After the last hour of the meeting, von der Leyen with a smile on her face stated that she wanted “personally to thank President Trump for his personal commitment and leadership in achieving this breakthrough.” “He is a hard negotiator, but also effective,” she said.
The “breakthrough” consisted in the reduction by Trump of the originally announced 30 % duties on the import of EU goods to 15 %, as well as to agree on certain sectoral exclusions.
As part of the preliminary agreement, von der Leyen and Trump also agreed to create an alliance on industrial metals – steel, aluminum, copper and their derivatives – to relieve the impact of the subsidized Chinese overproduction on world markets.
US President Donald Trump and chairwoman of the EC Ursula von der Leyen during a meeting at Turnberry Scotland, July 27, 2025.Brendan Częlowski / AFP / AFP
– this alliance effectively will create a common protective barrier around our economies Through tariff contingents at a historical level with preferential treatment – said Maros Sefcovic, head of EU trade on Monday.
According to one of the high -ranking officials, although the conditions still require refinement – like most of the details of the transatlantic trade agreement – this alliance is part of the wider plans “to combine forces in the fight against non -parish sources of surpluses of production capacity”.
180 degree phrase
Initially, after Trump's return to the White House, there were high hopes for Diplomatic reset of block relations with China or at least gradual relaxation.
In a speech to the EU ambassadors in February von der Leyen said that the EU must “work constructively with China”, adding that “we can find agreements that could even expand our trade and investment ties.”
The extraordinary openness was accepted with satisfaction by Beijing, which seemed willing to establish relations with the EU when Washington raised duties to 145 percent. However, when China responded with the introduction of strict control of the export of rare lands, Europe was in the cross, and the conciliation tone of von der Leyen did not last long.
During the summit of the G7 leaders in June, von der Leyen accused China of “using as a weapon” her position in the production and refining of critical raw materials.
In a speech addressed to European legislators shortly before the EU Summit, she criticized the Chinese industrial overproduction, export restrictions and support for the Russian war in Ukraine.
Ultimately, hawk attitude von der Leyen towards Beijing could help her conclude an agreement with Trump. However, this is a strategy that can have the opposite effect and be less effective than expected by the EC.
– Currently, the United States seems to be more interested in the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with China than cooperation with allies and partners in order to meet the challenges facing the US and the world – noted Francesca Ghretti, the director of China Europe Initiative at Think Tank Rand.
Ghiretti added that the EU closer to the United States in the matter of China “does not give any direct benefits or soothe tensions between the US and the EU.”
In her opinion, the EU should “continue the approach to China, which concerns relations between the EU and China, and not the role that China can play in EU relations with the United States.”
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
