This article was originally published in English
Despite trade disputes over electric vehicles and dairy products, the EU remains China’s largest trading partner, with mechanical appliances and electrical equipment the most traded goods.
ADVERTISEMENT
Over the past decade, trade between the EU and China has continued to grow.
The EU remains China’s largest trading partner, while China is the EU’s second largest trading partner.
Germany, the Netherlands and Italy are the main importers and exporters of goods to and from China.
More than half of the goods the EU imports from China are mechanical appliances and electrical equipment. Vehicles and aircraft account for less than 6%, followed by organic chemicals (4.7%) and clothing accessories (4.5%).
On the other hand, more than a third of EU exports to China are mechanical appliances and electrical equipment. This is followed by vehicles and aircraft (16.7%), pharmaceutical products (9.3%) and optical instruments (7.2%).
-Trade disputes between the EU and China
BYD, China’s largest electric car maker, has announced record sales of hybrid and electric vehicles worldwide in 2024, driven by strong domestic demand and the success of government recovery programs.
BYD’s battery electric vehicle sales increased by approximately 12.08% from 2023, reaching a total of 1.76 million vehicles.
In late 2024, the EU imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles after determining that government subsidies allowed Chinese manufacturers to undercut European prices.
China, however, criticized these measures which it described as protectionist.
In retaliation, China has launched an anti-dumping investigation into EU dairy products, which could result in tariffs on imports such as cheese and milk. The move echoes previous actions in other sectors and reflects escalating trade tensions between the two economies.
Video editor • Mert Can Yilmaz
