France has been caught in the crossfire of trade tensions between China and the EU. A recent trip to China by Sophie Primas, the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, illustrates the delicate balancing act both sides are trying to perform.

Today, China's Ministry of Commerce confirmed that it had filed an additional lawsuit against the EU's anti-subsidy measures on electric vehicles at the WTO, following up on its earlier complaint on the preliminary measures.

The European Union's countervailing duties on Chinese electric vehicles have now been finalized, with the full reasoning of the European Commission available. In terms of the next legal steps, the Commission's determination can now be appealed to the EU courts and can be challenged at the

While Beijing has been focused on high-profile trade disputes with major economies such as the United States and the European Union, an increasingly protectionist sentiment among smaller trading partners presents a different kind of challenge and a complex landscape for Chinese exports.

In an interview last week, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai pointed out that there has been an increase in the use of trade remedies against China by developing countries.

As the result of a vote by EU member states today, the European Commission can move forward with its proposed tariffs on Chinese EVs, although negotiations with China on a resolution may continue.

A new report from the European Commission on its trade defense instruments (anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguards) documents its use of these measures against China, as well as the Chinese measures against the EU, in 2023.