Europe Hardens Its China Trade Stance as Beijing Courts Canada

Brussels agreed on a tougher approach to Chinese trade and drew an immediate threat of retaliation, even as China told Canada it could double its exports.

The European Commission agreed on a tougher new approach to trade with China at a rare Beijing-focused debate among its leadership on Friday. The bloc's trade chief, Maros Sefcovic, set out why the European Union needs stronger tools to defend itself, and Beijing vowed retaliation, the South China Morning Post reported.

At the same time, China is widening its commercial reach elsewhere. During a rare visit by Canada's foreign minister, Anita Anand, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Canada could double its exports to China, surpassing a goal of a 50 percent increase by 2030. Canada is also building ties in other directions, launching a trade and investment forum with India, the Economic Times reported, where Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal discussed an economic partnership agreement.

The contrast captures a fragmenting trade order. As Europe and China move toward confrontation, middle powers such as Canada and India are diversifying their partners rather than choosing a single bloc, a pattern that points away from a single dominant trading system and toward a more divided one.