More trade-defense tools might not solve the EU’s China problem
By Oscar Pandiello ( June 22, 2026, 10:05 GMT | Comment) -- EU leaders have tasked the European Commission with exploring stronger trade instruments to protect the bloc's producers from competition from China’s industrial overcapacity policies. But its scant use of existing tools — such as the International Procurement Instrument and the Anti-Coercion Instrument — suggest a bigger arsenal could simply expose the EU's hesitation if it doesn't have a clear plan for using them.The EU’s response to the threat from China’s export-oriented industrial policy is starting to look familiar: When the pressure grows, expand the toolbox....
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