Why Europe's 'Most Open Market' Is Turning Protectionist

A Global Times opinion piece argues that the EU is abandoning its tradition of free movement of goods, people, capital, and services, and drifting toward protectionism. It cites recent EU actions including fines on Chinese e-commerce platforms Temu and AliExpress, the end of the €150 de minimis import duty exemption, and proposals to boost domestic manufacturing. The author, a Shanghai-based researcher, warns that such measures could harm European consumers and contradict European values.