Over the past few years, significant distrust has emerged between the EU and China. EU leaders said the China trade relationship had become too one-sided, with state back industries under-cutting European producers, particularly in e-vehicles, batteries and solar panels. The US tariff war on China has resulted in a diversion of trade away from the US, and Chinese exports to Europe rising further and are now more than double Europe’s exports to China. At the same time, EU exports to China - along with Ireland’s - have been in decline. The question remains has the Taoiseach’s visit done enough to reverse the falling exports, or bring in more Chinese investment?

Source: Irish Examiner January 11, 2026 14:20 UTC