economedia.ro/cine-tine-europa-in-frau-harta-presi

The pressure from countries like China, the US, and Russia on the EU has increased significantly since 2018, with China being the main actor. A recent ISPI analysis highlights that China's economic coercion is more persistent than that from the US or Russia. The EU's trade deficit with China is substantial, with imports rising while exports decline. China's control over critical materials gives it leverage over the EU, as seen in past incidents like the one involving Lithuania. Despite these challenges, the EU has the tools to defend itself, particularly through its strong manufacturing sectors in Italy and Germany, which produce specialized goods that are hard to replace.