Chinese Expert Says Europe's Trade War Drumbeat Is a Miscalculation

A commentary in the Global Times, authored by Cui Hongjian of Beijing Foreign Studies University, pushes back against recent European media calls for a trade war with China. The piece argues that the EU's growing trade deficit stems from internal structural problems—such as high energy costs and lagging labor reforms—rather than from Chinese competition. It warns that any conflict would backfire, as China is the EU's largest import supplier, accounting for 23.1% of total imports, and holds advantages in supply chains where Europe feels vulnerable.