EU confronts ‘China shock’ ahead of pivotal Brussels trade talks

AI Summary

The EU is preparing for challenging trade talks in Brussels as it confronts the competitive threat from China, highlighted by Volkswagen’s plan to cut up to 100,000 jobs due to Chinese competition. EU leaders are uniting to accelerate efforts to counteract China's economic impact.

European Union leaders had a week to bask in their rare, relatively united stance on China policy before news broke to remind them of the urgency of their task: German car giant Volkswagen was reportedly planning up to 100,000 job cuts in the face of cutthroat Chinese competition. Seven days previously at a European Council summit in Brussels, leaders from the EU’s 27 member states had instructed the European Commission to accelerate its efforts to fight back against what is seen as a damaging...