EU Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said China is not following international trade rules and is flooding Europe with state-subsidized products [1].
This friction threatens the stability of the European Union's green transition and industrial competitiveness. Because China controls many of the materials required for clean energy technology, the EU faces a strategic vulnerability if trade relations deteriorate further.
Speaking in Brussels, Hoekstra, the EU Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, said China is using critical raw materials as choke points [1]. He said that these practices, combined with heavy state subsidies, provide China with an unfair advantage in the global marketplace [1, 2].
"China isn't playing by the rules on trade," Hoekstra said [2].
The commissioner said that the influx of subsidized goods disrupts the European market. He said that the EU will respond to level things out [1]. While specific policy mechanisms were not detailed, the statement signals a shift toward more aggressive countermeasures to protect European industries from non-market practices.
Hoekstra specifically highlighted the dual pressure of export flooding and resource restriction. By controlling the supply of raw materials, China can influence the production costs and availability of essential components for European manufacturers [1].
"China is flooding Europe with heavily state‑subsidised products and using critical raw materials as choke points," Hoekstra said [1].
“"China isn't playing by the rules on trade."”
This escalation suggests the EU is moving toward a more protectionist stance to safeguard its 'Net Zero' goals. By framing the issue as a violation of trade rules, the EU creates a legal and political justification for implementing tariffs or quotas. The mention of 'choke points' indicates that Europe is increasingly concerned about its dependence on Chinese supply chains for the minerals essential to electric vehicles and wind turbines.
