EU should not accept hand-me-down judgments of China from Washington: China Daily editorial

Given the vast common ground that China and the European Union share, especially on economic globalization and free trade, there has been hope that, with a new leadership, the EU will work with China to push forward their pragmatic cooperation and resolve the differences that exist between them through dialogue. Maros Sefcovic, the EU's commissioner-designate for trade and economic security, has described China as the most challenging trading partner of the 27-member bloc. Though Sefcovic advocates for removing trade barriers and promoting free and fair trade, he has taken a tough position on China, accusing the country of not providing a level playing field and fair market access to European businesses, which, in his view, is "threatening our industry in the European Union". The EU's foreign policy chief-designate Kaja Kallas, in a recent confirmation hearing, claimed that "China needs to also feel a higher cost" for keeping Russia supplied with technology needed for its "special military operation" in Ukraine, arguing that "without China's support, Russia would not be able to continue its war with the same force".