China: EU's proposed trade measures against China lacks sound basis: former Italian official.

A former Italian economic official on Thursday pushed back against the European Union's proposed trade measures targeting China, arguing that the bloc's "301" trade tool rests on shaky ground, and that the EU's structure makes it nearly impossible to craft policies that satisfy all member states. Michele Geraci, former Undersecretary of State at Italy's Ministry of Economic Development, made the statement in an interview in Shanghai following a reported tool being pushed by some European Union (EU) member states. According to the reports, some EU member states are preparing a joint document calling on the European Commission -- the executive arm of the EU -- to accelerate the development of a so-called European "301" tool and take tougher measures against China, including proposed imposition of a 40 percent supply cap on crucial products from China. Building on that point, Geraci said the bloc's internal divisions extend beyond economics, describing the EU as structurally unable to serve all its members equally. Shotlist: Shanghai, east China - Oct 8, 2026: FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown 1. Aerial shots of Tian'anmen Rostrum, Chinese national flag, ornamental column; Shanghai, east China - Oct 8, 2026 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Michele Geraci, Former Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development of Italy (partially overlaid with shots 3-4): "I want to give the audience a very simple example. This 40 percent rule of supply is really based on nothing. I buy coffee only from Starbucks. So Starbucks represent 100 percent of my supply of coffee. Do I go to Starbucks and say, 'Oh now you need to buy some of my research analysis to rebalance the trade?' No. I'm a willing buyer. I can switch to another supplier. But before doing that, I can even try to make coffee by myself at home, and this is what the European Union should do. Instead of focusing on raising voices, they should try to develop domestic champions. But the structure of the 27 [EU member] countries with not common fiscal [systems], with no common financial systems and redistribution of taxes makes it pretty much impossible."; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown 3. Various of Chinese Ministry of Commerce office building, signs, entrance; FILE: Brussels, Belgium - Date Unknown 4. Various of European Union flags, Berlaymont building; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Budapest, Hungary - June 28, 2024 5. Various of vehicles being charged, sign reading "plug-in hybrid"; FILE: Shandong Province, east China - 2026 6. Aerial shots of vehicles for export, vessels at port; Shanghai, east China - Oct 8, 2026 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Michele Geraci, Former Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development of Italy (starting with shot 6): "So this is what I mean when I say it's a structurally dysfunctional organization because it has the power to negotiate trade on behalf of the 27 members, it cannot make all 27 members happy. It can make a couple of them happy and the other 25 unhappy. And this creates unbalances within the industrial structure of the European Union itself."; Chongqing Municipality, southwest China - Recent 8. Various of chips production line; workers operating machine; FILE: China - Date Unknown 9. Various of containers of China-Europe Express being handled by cranes; 10. Aerial shot of freight train running; FILE: Xiamen City, Fujian Province, east China - Date Unknown 11. Aerial shots of containers, cranes, vessels at port. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]