European officials are working closely with China to prevent a trade war, with high-ranking EU trade negotiator Maros Sefcovic visiting Beijing on October 8 and 9 at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. The EU and China have a trade deficit of about one billion euros per day, which Europeans attribute to unfair practices by China that they say threaten key industries like automotive and chemicals. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned in September that the trade deficit "has reached a turning point," blaming the "Chinese shock" for contributing to "the deindustrialization" of Europe. She said that if no progress is made, the EU will use all available tools to rebalance the relationship. European diplomats suggest that the 27 EU member states are considering expanding their defense arsenal, including a new tool proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, inspired by the U.S. Section 301 mechanism. This tool would allow for targeted and rapid tariffs on products from countries accused of unfair practices. Germany, despite concerns about preserving its exports to China, has endorsed the proposal. The European Commission is expected to present proposals along these lines by the end of the year. Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have called on the EU to acquire a new legal arsenal to respond more rapidly in the event of a trade war. In a letter to von der Leyen, they requested a tool that would allow the EU to immediately exclude goods and services from a country conducting a trade war against the EU from the internal market. The proposals aim to activate safeguard measures already present in the EU's "toolbox" for struggling sectors such as chemistry and pharmaceuticals, without requiring explicit opposition from a qualified majority of member states. Beijing has warned of retaliation if the EU adopts any "protective or unilateral measures," stating that it would respond firmly to protect the legitimate rights and interests of its industries. China is concerned about protecting its exports, which it increasingly relies on, as its national economy faces a severe real estate crisis. In the past, China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on European imports such as Cognac. Experts suggest that while the EU already has the necessary tools to combat unfair competition, it lacks the political will to use them. The EU's "anti-coercion instrument," adopted in 2023 but never used, could be activated if member states agree by qualified majority. The proposals from France and Germany emphasize the need to move beyond "naivety" and address the "unsustainable nature of the imbalances" in trade relations with China. The measures should apply equally to all trade partners, in accordance with World Trade Organization rules.