My second blog will be on the article, "The EU (and the World) Must Choose Between the U.S. & China?", which was a fascinating read on the current global relationships and their respective strategies. Europe is introduced to not be prepared at all with the global political changes, specifically Americans appointing Donald Trump. Instead of looking to take advantage of the global changes, there was heavy division within the EU. Considered among the public, right wing leaders in Italy and Hungary moved to align with Trump's administration, but countries considered left wing leaders like Germany and France did not. The division cripples the European Union's ability to effectively trade with global powerhouses like USA and China as a unit. Hinted,…
The article titled “Europe Last: How von der Leyen’s China Policy Traps the EU”, published in Asia Times, presents a critical perspective on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s approach to managing the European Union’s relationship with China. The author, Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa, argues that the EU’s current foreign policy, particularly toward China, may be inadvertently placing the region in a vulnerable geopolitical position, especially with Donald Trump back in the White House.
The article explores how the EU is caught between two global powers: the U.S., its traditional security partner, and China, one of its largest trading partners. Von der Leyen’s increasingly firm stance on China aligns with American interests, but it risks damaging Europe's economic ties with…
In this article, Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa critiques European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s hardline policy toward China. Trillo-Figueroa argues clearly that the current policy undermines the European Union’s strategic autonomy and could lead to economic and diplomatic isolation. The author presents a compelling case that the E.U. risks missing out on opportunities for engagement and trade while the U.S. itself might pivot towards a more peacemaking stance under President Donald Trump.
This article closely relates to opportunity cost and comparative advantage in international trade. By choosing to restrict economic engagement with China, von der Leyen sacrifices potential gains from trade and specialization (Contin Trillo-Figueroa, 2025). China offers the European Union access to large consumer markets, low-cost manufacturing, and investment…
The article '‘Europe Last’: How von der Leyen’s China policy traps the EU" raises the question of possible upcoming problems in the European economy in connection with the latest changes in the political picture of the world. The author of the article suggests that as a result of the election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America, Europe may be faced with the need to choose cooperation with the United States or China.
Currently, the import of goods produced in China to Europe is well established. One of the largest groups of goods imported from China is television products. The volume of trade between Europe and China in 2024 increased by 4.3%, while exports from…
My second blog will be on the article, "The EU (and the World) Must Choose Between the U.S. & China?", which was a fascinating read on the current global relationships and their respective strategies. Europe is introduced to not be prepared at all with the global political changes, specifically Americans appointing Donald Trump. Instead of looking to take advantage of the global changes, there was heavy division within the EU. Considered among the public, right wing leaders in Italy and Hungary moved to align with Trump's administration, but countries considered left wing leaders like Germany and France did not. The division cripples the European Union's ability to effectively trade with global powerhouses like USA and China as a unit. Hinted,…
The article titled “Europe Last: How von der Leyen’s China Policy Traps the EU”, published in Asia Times, presents a critical perspective on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s approach to managing the European Union’s relationship with China. The author, Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa, argues that the EU’s current foreign policy, particularly toward China, may be inadvertently placing the region in a vulnerable geopolitical position, especially with Donald Trump back in the White House.
The article explores how the EU is caught between two global powers: the U.S., its traditional security partner, and China, one of its largest trading partners. Von der Leyen’s increasingly firm stance on China aligns with American interests, but it risks damaging Europe's economic ties with…
In this article, Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa critiques European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s hardline policy toward China. Trillo-Figueroa argues clearly that the current policy undermines the European Union’s strategic autonomy and could lead to economic and diplomatic isolation. The author presents a compelling case that the E.U. risks missing out on opportunities for engagement and trade while the U.S. itself might pivot towards a more peacemaking stance under President Donald Trump.
This article closely relates to opportunity cost and comparative advantage in international trade. By choosing to restrict economic engagement with China, von der Leyen sacrifices potential gains from trade and specialization (Contin Trillo-Figueroa, 2025). China offers the European Union access to large consumer markets, low-cost manufacturing, and investment…
The article '‘Europe Last’: How von der Leyen’s China policy traps the EU" raises the question of possible upcoming problems in the European economy in connection with the latest changes in the political picture of the world. The author of the article suggests that as a result of the election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America, Europe may be faced with the need to choose cooperation with the United States or China.
Currently, the import of goods produced in China to Europe is well established. One of the largest groups of goods imported from China is television products. The volume of trade between Europe and China in 2024 increased by 4.3%, while exports from…