The European Union defended its independent approach to trade and investment with China, by clarifying its approach that, unlike the United States, we find that (the European Union does not seek economic separation from China), hence the various positions and methods of American-European confrontation, regarding the mechanism of dealing with China, which resulted in several problems between Europe and the United States of America, as follows:
After reaching a (Comprehensive Investment Agreement between the European Union and China), which is likely to enter into force in 2022, after its ratification by the European Union governments and the European Parliament, and it is expected that the European-Chinese agreement will give much greater freedom to (companies of European and Baltic countries) to expand their business with China.
The European Union refused to agree with the United States of America to form a common front against Beijing. The European Union defined its economic relationship with China, according to three names, as follows:
China is a partner of the European Union: (on climate change).
China is a competitor to the European Union: (on trade, investment, economy, intellectual property rights), and other such issues.
China is a systematic competitor to the European Union: (in terms of values and governance).
The European Union still follows this policy towards China, and is reluctant to stand by the United States against China. The European Union is keen to “benefit from Chinese trade and investment, which is fueled by China’s sustainable economic growth”.
After the European Union reached a comprehensive political and economic agreement with China in December 2020, regarding (signing a new comprehensive investment agreement between China and the European Union countries), known as: “CAI”
So, under that agreement between China and the EU, this would (improve the access of European companies to the Chinese market), as for Chinese companies, they already enjoy largely free access to the European market.
The American criticism of the European Union came because it does not have a better negotiating power with the Chinese side, and its inability to reach a multilateral agreement. Most notably, Chinese President “Xi Jinping” personally intervened to make a large number of the final concessions needed to secure the (bilateral agreement between China and the European Union), which led to a rift in the relationship between the European Union and the United States.
In fact, the European Union realizes the difficulty of achieving the American desire as a partner country with it in the “NATO” alliance to disengage with China, according to the Europeans, the economies are always highly intertwined, and therefore, (It will not be possible for the Europeans to completely sever ties with the Chinese side, and achieve the desire of Washington).
We also find the failure of American pressure on its European partners themselves, and an attempt to persuade them to (diversify supply chains away from China, in order to avoid dependence on China for vital supplies).
Through this analysis, we conclude the fact that the European Union is less interested than Washington in the matter of China. Evidence that (Germany has actually decided to allow the Chinese company Huawei to provide equipment for its new communication networks, with full French approval, given that France is the receiving party for the Chinese peace cable for digital communications from China to Europe), with the French and German welcoming the investments of the Huawei factory on their lands.
