At the G7 summit, concerns about oversupply and increased exports from China emerged as significant economic issues. Despite high tariffs imposed by the United States, Chinese exports have not declined; instead, they have shifted toward Europe and Asia, raising fears of a so-called 'China Shock 2.0.'
On June 16, Axios and the Associated Press reported that the G7 summit in Évian, France, focused on the imbalance of production and consumption among member countries. Although China was not explicitly mentioned in official documents, issues such as market-distorting policies, oversupply, and unfair trade practices were highlighted.
U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods have resulted in a redirection of exports rather than a decrease. Last year, China recorded a record trade surplus of $1.2 trillion. As U.S. barriers increased, Chinese products found their way to markets in Europe and Asia, where tariffs are relatively lower. The Associated Press reported a 16.4% increase in exports to the EU from January to May compared to the previous year.
The 'China Shock 2.0' that Europe is concerned about differs from the initial shock in the early 2000s. Back then, low-cost manufacturing products like textiles, furniture, toys, and electronics reduced factory jobs in the U.S. and Europe. Now, high-value industries where Europe has competitive advantages, such as electric vehicles, batteries, solar energy, industrial machinery, chemicals, and robotics, are directly competing with Chinese companies and products.
Germany is a prime example of this pressure. German companies, which once relied heavily on the Chinese market for exports, are now facing competition from local firms in key sectors such as machinery, construction equipment, automobiles, and chemicals. The German economy is projected to contract in 2023 and 2024, with only a 0.2% growth expected in 2025, as intensified competition from China is identified as a contributing factor to the manufacturing sector's challenges.
In response to these developments, the European Union is raising its defensive measures. The EU has imposed additional tariffs of up to 35% on Chinese electric vehicles. Additionally, it is considering mechanisms to impose further tariffs or import restrictions on Chinese products that benefit from government subsidies. Discussions are also expanding on regulations that favor European products in strategic industries such as batteries, wind energy, and clean technology.
Europe's concerns are increasingly aligning with those of the United States. Historically, Washington has been the strongest critic of Beijing's export-driven growth model. Recently, the EU has also recognized that oversupply could undermine its manufacturing base. As a result, there is potential for progress in discussions on joint responses to unfair trade practices and oversupply issues during this summit.
China has reacted strongly, with the state-run Global Times labeling the G7 as a 'hypocritical club of wealthy nations' ahead of the meeting. It also claimed that the West is blaming China for its economic slowdown and declining industrial competitiveness.
This discussion illustrates that the issue of oversupply from China is evolving beyond simple trade friction to encompass broader concerns about industrial protection and the restructuring of production and supply chains among major nations. If the G7 takes collective action, the trade conflict between China and the West could extend beyond electric vehicles to include batteries, machinery, chemicals, and clean technology.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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