Could Europe’s cost-of-living protests sharpen EU-China trade tensions?

AI Summary

Cost-of-living protests, including violent unrest in France, may increase pressure on European policymakers to take a tougher trade stance toward China. Analysts say domestic instability could either make the EU appear weaker or increase incentives to demonstrate strength abroad.

As violent protests fuelled partly by the cost-of-living crisis shake parts of Europe, most notably France, analysts say the unrest could add to pressure on European policymakers to take a tougher trade stance towards China. “One could argue that the EU looks weaker, but then one could also argue that there is more of a need to show external strength at a time of such events,” said David Henig, director of the UK Trade Policy Project at the European Centre for International Political...