Chinese companies in the European Union say business conditions in the bloc have deteriorated for a sixth consecutive year, with rising labour costs and political challenges pressuring their operations, according to a survey published on Wednesday, reports Reuters. The survey for the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU of 200 Chinese companies and organisations said that the bloc’s performance in research, talent, digitalisation and market access represented obstacles.
In the survey carried out by consultants Roland Berger, Chinese companies and organisations gave an overall score of 61 points to the EU business environment, down from 73 points in 2019 and a point lower than in 2024.
EU-China relations have been strained by the EU’s “de-risking” strategy aimed at reducing its reliance on China, particularly for critical minerals, with stricter screening of investments and tariffs, notably on Chinese-built electric vehicles from October last year.