Beijing has responded to Trump's tariffs by redirecting its exports from the United States to Europe, inadvertently handing Brussels significant leverage over China - if it chooses to use it. The EU could join Washington in pressuring Beijing to rein in its massive overproduction and lower subsidies to domestic producers.

Anthony Luzzatto Gardner, who served as US ambassador to the EU from 2014 to 2017, outlined the opportunity in Foreign Affairs, "Hvylya" reports. He argued that before Trump's second term, Brussels's views on China were rapidly hardening and moving into alignment with Washington's.

As a first step, the United States should work with the EU to revive the World Trade Organization by overhauling the "most favored nation" principle, which requires any trade concession granted to one country to be extended to all WTO members. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic has already called this principle a "straitjacket" that enables free-riding. Reforming the rule would incentivize China to end its manipulative trade practices.

Gardner also pointed to the Minerals Security Partnership, established under the Biden administration and continued by Trump, which brings together the EU, the United States, and 13 other countries to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths. The partnership catalyzes private investment in mining, processing, and recycling projects across Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

Cooperation should extend beyond minerals. Having already coordinated to limit Huawei's presence in European 5G networks, the two sides should expand that model to submarine cables, 6G networks, cloud services, and data centers. They should also pool influence in international standard-setting bodies, strengthen controls on Chinese foreign investment, and collaborate on limiting technology exports to China, including high-end chips and the tools to manufacture them.

Earlier, "Hvylya" explained why China's limited oil reserves and weakening economy leave Beijing unable to afford a prolonged confrontation with Washington.