# EU manufacturers may concede to Chinese rivals by 2030, warns chamber chief

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/eu-manufacturers-could-give-up-on-competing-with-china-by-2030-warns-commerce-chief/
- Published: 2026-11-10T06:00:30+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T06:19:33+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/nov/10/eu-manufacturers-china-jens-eskelund
- Topics: Asia, Europe, World

## Key points

- Europe’s manufacturers may struggle to compete with Chinese firms by 2030.
- A forecast puts the potential EU GDP impact at 0.5%.
- Eskelund argues Europe may need to reconsider its approach to Chinese supply chains.

## Summary

Jens Eskelund, head of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, warns that European manufacturers may stop trying to compete with Chinese firms by 2030 if current trends continue. He says Europe may need to let its companies join Chinese supply chains, as Chinese exports and competition put pressure on European industry and raise concerns about jobs and economic independence.

Eskelund cited a Goldman Sachs forecast that Chinese exports could reduce EU GDP by 0.5% and Germany’s by as much as 0.9% by the end of the decade. The article points to pressure on carmakers, chemicals and renewable energy: BMW reported a 22% fall in sales in China in the first nine months of the year and issued a second profit warning. Eskelund says China’s drive to replace imports has been signalled in its industrial plans since 2015.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.