A recent MERICS study reveals a significant shift in global trade dynamics over the past two decades. The EU and US have become increasingly dependent on Chinese imports, particularly in machinery and electronics. Meanwhile, China has successfully reduced its reliance on Western industrial goods. The study highlights a growing asymmetry in trade relationships, with the West maintaining high dependence on Chinese textiles and furniture. China's strategic diversification away from tech-intensive inputs from leading industrial nations is cited as the primary cause of this imbalance.

MERICS expert François Chimits emphasizes the need for European efforts to diversify imports and bolster domestic industry, calling for a targeted approach to address critical sectors.