Germany Joins France in Push for Stronger EU Trade Defenses Against China

Germany has shifted its stance to align with France in urging the European Union to strengthen trade defenses against China, as the bloc's trade deficit with Beijing widens by €1 billion ($1.14 billion) per day. In a joint statement, the EU's two largest economies called for swift and systematic use of existing tools and pressed Brussels to submit concrete proposals on trade defense, industrial policy, and economic security. French President Emmanuel Macron noted that France and Germany had never been so convergent on China policy, though he insisted neither nation is anti-China. The daily trade shortfall also results in thousands of job losses across Europe.