The European Commission rolled out new “Made in Europe” guidelines Wednesday to protect the continent’s manufacturers from Chinese competition, though some worried a lack of binding quotas would undermine their efficacy.
Nine Chinese companies selling robotic lawnmowers are targeting the EU, given China’s lack of lawns, underlining the extent to which Europe’s markets have become a destination for Chinese overcapacity.
Meanwhile, a separate proposal to boost European industry that would include quotas has divided France and Germany.
“It seems unlikely that the EU will be able to muster focus and unity” to effectively counter Beijing, Brookings analysts wrote. “This is a circumstance that has advantaged China over the past 20 years and is likely to continue doing so.”