<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-05-05/EU-accelerates-strategic-pivot-pursues-autonomy-amid-Trump-tariffs-1D80FBDJmZW/img/df3e6d9e05a84620b8c80bacf2a1cf7f/df3e6d9e05a84620b8c80bacf2a1cf7f.png' alt='A view of the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels. /VCG'
The European Union has begun to reshape its global strategy, deepening ties with Asia and other regions while asserting greater strategic autonomy in response to sweeping U.S. tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump.
The Trump administration’s imposition of broad tariffs on European exports has prompted Brussels to accelerate its pivot to Asia, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing plans to deepen political and trade ties with key Asian economies to offset U.S. market barriers. At the same time, the EU is engaging with China on a mechanism to set minimum sale prices for imported electric vehicles, in exchange for suspending its duties, which were increased to as much as 45.3 percent.
Talks began in early April after EU member states approved the tariffs last October, disrupting the expansion strategies of Chinese manufacturers like BYD and Nio. Both companies have seen their market shares in Europe decline this year amid the new duties. To stay competitive, they have adopted differentiated pricing models, with BYD also planning to launch local production in Hungary to bypass levies.
Europe’s carmakers and auto-industry associations, notably Germany’s VDA, have voiced support for the price-commitment talks as a means to preserve market access and consumer choice. “Regardless of current global developments, it must also be discussed here how to reduce obstacles and distortions in international trade, rather than building new hurdles,” VDA said in a statement.
Apart from the willingness to negotiate a deal acceptable to China, the EU has also signaled that it will not decouple from the Chinese economy as a precondition for reaching a trade agreement with the United States, stressing that its trade talks with Washington and its relations with Beijing remain separate policy tracks. This came after reports suggesting that Trump might force other countries to choose between Washington and Beijing in trade negotiations.
The U.S. and the EU “are discussing what are the elements where a win-win outcome can be reached,” said Arianna Podesta, the European Commission’s deputy chief spokesperson.
“This is distinct from our relations with China,” she said.
Amid these trade realignments, a broader awakening to strategic autonomy has taken hold among EU capitals. Germany’s incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly declared that his “absolute priority” is to strengthen European defense capabilities and gradually achieve independence from the United States in security matters, citing Trump’s unpredictable policies as a catalyst for rethinking Europe’s reliance on Washington. His coalition deal includes a €500 billion special fund exempting defense spending from debt limits, demonstrating a decisive pivot to European-led security.
In conjunction with defense and trade shifts, France is positioning itself as a refuge for U.S. researchers affected by Washington’s cuts to federal science budgets. President Emmanuel Macron has launched the “Choose France for Science” initiative, offering co-funding and visa facilitation to scientists facing funding uncertainty in the United States. European Commission President von der Leyen joined the overture, hosting events to underline Europe’s commitment to academic freedom and innovation in contrast to U.S. policy turbulence.
Reflecting on these developments, EU High Representative Josep Borrell has argued that if there is any upside to Trump’s disruptive tariffs and isolationist stance, it is the impetus they provide for Europe to expand its global footprint from Asia through Africa and into Latin America. The EU has already earmarked a €4.7 billion investment package for South Africa, framing it as a strategic opportunity to solidify ties in regions feeling neglected by the United States. Likewise, talks to conclude a long-stalled Mercosur trade accord with Latin America have gained fresh momentum as Brussels seeks to diversify beyond U.S. markets.
