Europe Faces Rising Trade Barriers, German Industry Risks Millions Jobs

European economies, especially Germany, are facing significant challenges due to intensified competition from Chinese exports, which threaten key industries and jobs, while also impacting Central and Eastern European partners like Poland. China's strategic pivot to Europe amid the US-China trade war has led to a surge in Chinese imports into the EU, causing a decline in German market share in critical sectors such as machinery and automotive. Concurrently, Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu are aggressively expanding their advertising efforts across Europe, signaling an intensified push into European consumer markets despite skepticism from some local consumers. These developments underscore the complexity of global trade dynamics, where the EU is both a victim of external pressure and a battleground for trade dominance between China and the US. Meanwhile, other regions like the Philippines express concern about spillover effects from US tariffs, fearing a potential influx of dumped goods that could undermine local industries and employment, highlighting the broader global implications of trade tensions. These intertwined trade issues illustrate the multifaceted impact of global competition on economies, industries, and consumers across different continents.