European Chamber @EuropeanChamber

There are early signs that the business confidence might be starting to bottom out. Bernhart said that, despite the ongoing challenges, China remains a key market for European companies in terms of innovation capabilities, production ecosystems and sourcing. [2/2]

On 21 July, our VP Stefan Bernhart met with a visiting delegation from @Europarl_EN's Committee for Foreign Affairs (@EP_ForeignAff) led by chair @davidmcallister . Bernhart provided an overview of the key economic trends impacting the operations of European companies in China.

Di Giovanni presented Business Confidence Survey findings. He highlighted the importance of strengthening Europe’s competitiveness while advancing energy security, industrial resilience and the green transition. Then shared recommendations from our #Energy Working Group. [2/2]

On 21 July, our VP Gianni Di Giovanni and SG Adam Dunnett met with Commissioner @DanJoergensen at a dinner hosted by Danish Ambassador Michael Starbæk Christensen. EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo also joined and shared his views on EU-China trade & investment relations. [1/2]

🌐 For many SMEs, the key question is no longer whether to use AI, but where to start - and how to do it effectively and compliantly. In China, rapid AI adoption in smart manufacturing and business operations brings opportunities, yet data, IP, and regulatory differences add complexity for European SMEs. On 16 June, the @EUSMECentre and the @EuropeanChamber organised an Inter-Chamber SME Working Group meeting in Guangzhou – the smart manufacturing base of China – to discuss the recent trends, risks and opportunities of adopting and developing AI solutions. The China IP SME Helpdesk was invited to present the International IP Helpdesk’s Guide on Artificial Intelligence covering key IP risks, protection strategies, and compliance pathways with a focus on China. 🚀 🙌 Drawing on experiences from South China and the Greater Bay Area - a global hub for manufacturing and digital innovation - the subsequent panel session featuring European SMEs from AI-related industries offered actionable insights for SMEs across China on testing, applying, and scaling AI solutions. #KnowBeforeYouGo #IPHelpdesk

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🌐 On 24 and 25 June, the @EUSMECentre and the @EuropeanChamber organised a series of seminars focused on digital marketing of F&B products and consumer goods in China. The seminars, held in Shanghai, provided a detailed overview of the tools available to European SMEs for carrying out impactful online marketing campaigns for the Chinese market. The China IP SME Helpdesk was invited to provide an overview of IP protection in China. ✅ During the 24 June seminar focusing on the marketing of F&B products, co-organised with Business France in partnership with the Agro-Food Working Group of the French Chamber of Commerce in China, the China IP SME Helpdesk senior expert Mr Elliot Papageorgiou, Head of IP Strategy at Gowling WLG, highlighted the importance of early trademark registration to avoid issues with digital marketing campaigns due to potential trademark squatting (Chinese entities registering foreign trademark first for potential monetary gains from future disputes). Mr Papageorgiou strongly recommended developing and registering a Chinese-character version of the foreign brand name for a more impactful digital marketing. He also emphasized the importance of other IP rights in the protection of SME’s intellectual assets, such as design patents for the protection of distinctive packaging and copyright for marketing materials. ✅ During the 25 June seminar focusing on the marketing of consumer goods, the China IP SME Helpdesk external expert Ms Bei Li, Legal Counsel at the Rödl Shanghai office, highlighted that many EU SMEs fail to adequately monitor the China market for potential IP infringements, particularly trademark infringements, thus missing the golden opportunities to take timely action. She recommended that SMEs improve China market monitoring for trademark use as well as preserve trademark use evidence, to help build a strong IP firewall. Ms Bei Li also warned European SMEs against copyright infringements when using Chinese fonts and images in online marketing materials and recommended copyright recordal of their own logo and stylized fonts. You can re-watch the webinar recordings here: …ectual-property-helpdesk.ec.europa.eu/regional-helpd… #KnowBeforeYouGo #IPHelpdesk

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Eskelund said China had performed "comparatively" ​well compared with other markets hit by volatility, with some European companies ​managing to restore profitability. Many European firms also see China as an important location ‌for ⁠innovation. reuters.com/world/china/mo…

Day 3 in #Beijing! 🇨🇳 Today once again demonstrated how strongly the relationship between #EUrope and #China is shaped by economic strategy, diplomacy and global cooperation. The day began with a briefing hosted by #EU Ambassador J. Toledo, who provided our delegation with valuable insights into the current political and economic landscape. One thing became very clear: Europe must act in China with unity, confidence and strategic focus. Afterwards, I gave interviews to @DasErste, @handelsblatt and @derspiegel about our mission, the challenges European businesses are currently facing in China and how Europe can remain competitive in an increasingly complex global environment. I was especially pleased to meet my friend Jens Eskelund, Chairman of the @EuropeanChamber of Commerce in China. Our exchange once again highlighted how important strong European networks and clear economic positioning are in this region. Another major highlight was the visit to @Airbus in China. Seeing the scale, speed and technological precision of the operations on site was truly impressive. Airbus is a strong example of how international cooperation can succeed even in geopolitically challenging times. China remains highly dynamic, incredibly innovative and strategically important for Europe. But the discussions of the past days have also shown how essential clear interests, economic strength and European unity will be for the future. Tomorrow, the talks continue. The impressions here in Beijing are intense and they will shape Europe’s debates for years to come. 🇪🇺🇨🇳

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In many cases, European firms are becoming more deeply integrated into Chinese supply chains due to “economic necessity”, as companies seek to remain competitive against rivals already embedded in China’s #manufacturing ecosystem. sc.mp/dwzf6?utm_sour… via @SCMPNews

“We don’t see sort of de-risking becoming a theme,” said President Jens Eskelund. “If anything it would indicate that European companies continue to be more dependent on #China as a #sourcing and #manufacturing location for their products,” he said. cnb.cx/4u0M5uD

Watch the short video to learn about the key message of the newly released European Business in China Business Confidence Survey 2026. youtu.be/Vh1c_Adjoh8 Download the report: europeanchamber.com.cn/en/publication…

However, serious challenges remain. Addressing underlying structural issues will likely take many years. It would be prudent to simultaneously introduce pro-business policies that can bring ‘quick wins’ and provide the impetus for a sustained uptick in #sentiment. [3/3]

For the first time in 5 years, the proportion of respondents reporting that doing business in China became more difficult over the previous year fell (68%, -5pp y-o-y). 17% report optimism over their two-year #profitability outlook (+5pp y-o-y). [2/3]

Today, we published the 23rd edition of annual Business Confidence Survey, in partnership with @RolandBerger. The key finding is that after several years of deterioration, business confidence may be approaching an #inflection point. [1/3] Press release: europeanchamber.com.cn/en/press-relea…

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Happy #EuropeDay ! @EUdelChina

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#ChinaShortCuts #Podcast EP158: -Q1 #GDP -March industrial #production, #retail sales -Opinions on Promoting the Expansion and the Quality of the #Service Industry -Regulations on Countering Improper Extraterritorial Jurisdiction by Foreign States podcast.europeanchamber.com.cn/2026/04/22/202…

In a report released Tuesday, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China strongly criticized China’s growing use of #export #controls, particularly on #rare #earths. nytimes.com/2026/04/14/bus…

European Chamber President Jens Eskelund said: “We are not even beginning to scratch the surface in terms of understanding our #dependencies. I believe that #rare #earth and #magnets are conceivably just the tip of dependencies that we see.” msn.com/en-us/money/ot…

Watch the 1-min #video to learn about the key messaging of the newly published #report Exporting Control: China's New Strategic Toolkit youtu.be/uyHRFjAK5vc

“Implementing export controls in a targeted and precise way that prevents the trade of dual-use goods for military uses, while ensuring that legitimate civilian trade is not disrupted, would contribute to more mutually beneficial outcomes.” [4/4]

“Amid an increasingly turbulent global environment, China is well placed to leverage its strengths and demonstrate to it key trading partners, like the EU, that it can be relied upon as a sourcing destination for critical goods,” said President Jens Eskelund [3/4]

We released a report Exporting Control: China’s New Strategic Toolkit, showing how China’s export controls shape global access to strategic goods. Once for non-proliferation, now a strategic trade tool—following the US. The EU must respond to safeguard economic security. [1/4]