On October 5, the leaders of France and Germany sent a one-page letter and a three-page non-paper to the president of the European Commission, outlining proposals to strengthen Europe’s economic resilience and tackle global macroeconomic imbalances and unfair trade practices. This comes after discussions at the European Council meetings in June and a ministerial meeting between French and German officials in July, ahead of the October European Council. The documents aim to address what the two nations describe as a "massive industrial shock" impacting key sectors of the European economy, including pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace, machine tools, and chemicals. Paris and Berlin propose a new systemic response mechanism to regulate access to the single market and consider "immediate blocking" measures against any third country that attempts to undermine fair competition. This mechanism, described as "country agnostic," would target all forms of market distortion, from individual products to entire sectors, including subsidies and currency manipulation. The mechanism would not require unanimous approval from member states; instead, it would be adopted unless a qualified majority opposes it. This ensures that inaction becomes the exception rather than the rule. The two capitals also urge the European Commission to use existing tools more proactively, such as launching more investigations into potential unfair practices, examining entire sectors rather than just specific products, and relaxing the lowest legal standard when European interests are at stake. The documents highlight a significant rise in non-compliance with European standards, especially due to the large volume of small packages entering the market, which has led to restrictions on access to the single market. A "Law on Industrial Acceleration" and a "European Preference" in strategic sectors are expected to be introduced by the end of 2026. Paris and Berlin also call for renewed dialogue on exchange rates between the Eurogroup, the European Central Bank, and the European Commission, a conversation that has been on hold for years. While the texts do not explicitly name China, they reference its economy through terms like "structural overcapacities globally," "excessive and generalized subsidies," "monetary manipulation," and "massive flows of small packages" that fail to meet European standards. In 2025, the European Union recorded a daily trade deficit of one billion euros with China. Chinese companies receive three to eight times more public support than their OECD counterparts, and the yuan is estimated to be undervalued by 16 to 30 percent. In contrast, private consumption accounts for only 40 percent of China's GDP, compared to 53 percent in the EU and 68 percent in the United States. On October 8, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, will co-chair the "Trade and Investment" working group in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao. Šefčovič expressed hope to return with a "proof of concept" addressing three topics: sudden increases in Chinese exports in key industrial sectors, concrete ways to boost European exports to China, and a clear long-term vision regarding Chinese export restrictions on raw materials, particularly rare earths. The Commission has warned that without "tangible results," it will implement its trade defense instruments. The discussions in Beijing will be reported to the European Council meeting scheduled for October 15 and 16.