Europe is waking up. It wants to have an "ace up its sleeve" in the clash with China

Expectations for the upcoming European Council summit have been rising as member states aim to redefine trade policies towards China, amid existential threats to the EU industry. This situation, termed 'Chinese shock 2.0', highlights the influx of cheap Chinese production impacting advanced technology sectors, particularly in the automotive industry. In September alone, China's trade surplus with the EU surged by 52.3% year-on-year, with Beijing targeting additional sectors for dominance. This context has heightened emotions leading up to the summit.