European leaders get ready to ‘act now’ amid rising fears of ‘China shock 2.0’

European Commission leaders are preparing to harden the EU’s economic stance towards China at a pivotal debate from Friday, opening the door to a new wave of trade and industrial measures later this year.

Sources indicated that a majority – though not all – of the 27 commissioners, including President Ursula von der Leyen, are supportive of a more robust trade and industrial policy, amid rising fears of de-industrialisation, in what is now widely described in Brussels as the “China shock 2.0”.