French President Emmanuel Macron will embark on his fourth state visit to China this week, meeting President Xi Jinping in Beijing and later in Chengdu, amid growing tensions between Europe and China over trade, technology, and geopolitical issues.
European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, have warned that relations with Beijing are at an “inflection point,” while Chinese exports, particularly in steel and electric vehicles, continue to pressure European industries. Macron’s visit aims to rebalance Europe’s trade relationship with China, secure access to Chinese technology, and maintain stability amid rising economic and security risks.
Europe is increasingly concerned about China’s dominance in rare earth processing, EV technology, and its backing of Russia, forcing Macron to balance protecting European economic interests with avoiding trade conflicts or diplomatic breakdowns. France seeks industrial and technological gains, particularly in the EV sector, while the European Union works on a new economic security doctrine to address China’s industrial policies, and China aims to maintain influence over European markets and promote domestic consumption.
The United States is watching closely, concerned about Europe’s alignment on China and Taiwan, and European industries, including Airbus and French automakers, are poised to be directly affected by the visit’s outcomes. Macron will push for trade rebalancing, urging China to boost domestic consumption and share gains from innovation, while also discussing stability in the Taiwan Strait and broader EU-China trade and technology agreements. The visit underscores Europe’s delicate position of reliance on Chinese trade and technology while protecting strategic industries, and Macron’s handling of the visit will influence Europe’s economic leverage, industrial competitiveness, and transatlantic relations.
Macron and Xi at a G20 meeting in Mexico in 2024