Global economy and trade policy
Explore recurring issues in Europe’s relationship with its extended neighbourhood, and economic relations with China, India and the rest of the world.
The global economy in continues to be affected by the pandemic. However, it is also marked by major geopolitical developments, from President Biden’s inauguration and a revival of the transatlantic relationship, to the continued rivalry with China, with the EU caught in-between these global trends.
Bruegel’s scholars cover the European Union’s increasing assertiveness towards neighbours over the past year, including the external repercussions of the European Green Deal, managing a crisis at its borders, building a future relationship with a former member, strengthening the international role of the euro and tackling a resurgent China.
Recently published and updated
The evolution of EU-China relations
A glimpse into the evolving landscape of Europe's engagement with China.
China Economic Database
Repository of what we consider to be the most relevant macroeconomic data for China and EU-China relations.
Third time lucky? China’s push to internationalise the renminbi
This paper analyses China’s different attempts to internationalise its currency and how they have fared.
Russian foreign trade tracker
De-risking and decarbonising: a green tech partnership to reduce reliance on China
Greater alignment of the major economic powers is needed around a collective effort to improve security of supply for decarbonisation goods.
Understanding local government debt in China
How can China navigate the country towards a more sustainable and balanced economic future?
China’s position on Israel leading to a cold war
The most far-reaching ramification of recent events is the inexorable advance of a world splitting into two poles.
The state of play in EU-LATAM trade
Are we seeing a fatigue of ‘The Brussels Effect’?
¿Qué precio pagará Italia por abandonar la Ruta de la Seda?
Blog post
17 October 2022
Europe’s promised semiconductor subsidies need to be better targeted
The proposed European Chips Act over-emphasises semiconductor production subsidies, focusing too little on increasing value-added in research.
Blog post
14 October 2022
How European Union energy policies could mitigate the coming recession
The European Union faces recession, but the way in which policymakers manage the energy crisis will determine its depth and duration.
Blog post
11 October 2022
Does the European Union need an energy crisis fund?
An EU energy fund is justified, but for different reasons than commonly assumed, with implications for the fund’s design.
Blog post
06 October 2022
Using online data to glimpse into the future of work
Labour-market data from online sources can identify emerging occupations and skill demand, helping policymakers prepare better for future needs.
Blog post
06 October 2022
Volatile energy markets expose the fragility of Europe’s capital market infrastructure
Reform of the EU central clearing framework is an essential part of capital markets union, but reform should not be driven by current energy turmoil.
Blog post
05 October 2022
China and the West: growing apart as geopolitical tensions grow
The model of increasing economic interdependence between the West and the emerging world was built on assumptions that no longer hold.
Blog post
04 October 2022
How the European Union can best apply the Digital Markets Act
The European Union’s new Digital Markets Act will enable the European Commission to get ahead of potential anti-competitive behaviour.
Blog post
30 September 2022
Germany’s gas-price ‘defence shield’: problems and redeeming features
The €200 billion “defence shield” risks undermining European solidarity. This could be avoided by designing it well.
Policy brief
29 September 2022
An assessment of Europe’s options for addressing the crisis in energy markets
Action to intervene in the gas and electricity wholesale markets is also being taken at European Union level, which is what we analyse in this paper.
Working paper
29 September 2022
Greeniums in sovereign bond markets
In this paper, we analyse whether green sovereign bonds are systematically priced differently to conventional sovereign bonds in the secondary markets
Blog post
27 September 2022
China’s top ranked corporations are not as opaque as they may seem
Even though most large Chinese SOEs are not listed, they generate most of their revenue from their listed subsidiaries.
Policy brief
27 September 2022
Will Ukraine’s refugees go home?
The way to help Ukraine will be to assist in reconstruction and not place artificial impediments to immigration of those who have already suffered.
Blog post
26 September 2022
Do LGBTQIA+ people face EU labour market discrimination?
Labour-market data on LGBTQIA+ people is limited, but there is some evidence that those in same-sex partnerships experience discrimination.
Policy brief
22 September 2022
Enlarging and deepening: giving substance to the European Political Community
The EPC would not be, and should not be, regarded as a substitute for EU accession, but should be designed to work as an accelerator.
Working paper
22 September 2022
Risks to job quality from digital technologies: are industrial relations in Europe ready for the challenge?
The paper extends the debate about the future of work beyond employment and pay, to a consideration of job quality more broadly.
Blog post
22 September 2022
Tackling inflation: learning from the European Central Bank's six lapses
While mistakes unduly constrained rate hikes, gradual tightening is the right approach along with a new instrument to address energy bottlenecks.