Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the European Union to join China in opposing the United States’ escalating tariff measures, framing a potential EU-China trade alliance as a bulwark against Washington’s “unilateral bullying.” The appeal was made during a high-profile meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Beijing, as trade tensions between China and the U.S. reached a new peak.

“There are no winners in a tariff war,” Xi told Sánchez, advocating for greater EU-China cooperation to preserve global supply chains and economic globalization. China has positioned itself as a defender of multilateralism in response to President Trump’s latest round of sweeping tariffs, which now cover nearly all Chinese imports at rates exceeding 145%.

Xi’s outreach follows China’s own retaliatory move – raising tariffs on key U.S. exports to as high as 125% – and is widely seen as an attempt to isolate Washington diplomatically while keeping access to European markets intact. The Chinese leader emphasized the need for “coordination among major powers” and described the EU as a “strategic partner” in defending rules-based trade.

Sánchez, in turn, expressed support for “a more balanced relationship” between Europe and China. While stopping short of endorsing a formal alliance, he called for dialogue and warned against the dangers of unilateral trade actions. “Protectionism benefits no one,” he said. “It only weakens global recovery and fosters division.”

EU reaction remains divided. French Prime Minister François Bayrou expressed skepticism about aligning too closely with China, warning that “Beijing is no substitute for Washington” and that the EU must maintain its own strategic autonomy. Germany, heavily reliant on trade with both powers, has not issued a formal response but is reportedly weighing the economic risks of taking sides.

With a major EU-China summit scheduled for early May, Xi’s comments mark the opening salvo in what could become a high-stakes diplomatic balancing act for Europe. Analysts note that a China-EU alignment – however informal – would significantly weaken U.S. leverage in the ongoing trade war.

The Crustian Daily will continue to track developments as the global economic order adjusts to a shifting axis of power.