Von Der Leyen Criticizes China Policies at G7 Summit Canada

At the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen took a firm stance against China, warning of a "new China shock" and accusing Beijing of using its dominance in rare earth minerals to exert economic coercion. She described China's policies as a "pattern of dominance, dependency and blackmail" and called for a united G7 response to counteract China's state-led growth model and subsidized overcapacity. This hawkish rhetoric, delivered in the presence of US President Donald Trump, marked a shift from earlier in the year when von der Leyen had expressed interest in deepening trade ties with China. Chinese officials and Chinese firms based in the EU criticized von der Leyen's remarks as economic scapegoating that diverts attention from the EU's own economic challenges and undermines global economic unity. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also protested G7 statements urging China to refrain from market distortions and harmful overcapacity. Von der Leyen emphasized the interconnectedness of global conflicts and economic instability, highlighting the need for cooperation among G7 partners to reduce dependencies and volatility in trade relations.