Trade continues to be the least problematic aspect of the EU-China economic relationship. The BRI offers potential trade gains for Europe by improving physical connectivity with countries along the route to China, but it also poses challenges for the EU. While Chinese investment in Europe is growing and has focused strongly on technology, it raises the question of whether the EU should fear losing its technological edge, especially when Chinese state-owned companies might distort competition through foreign acquisitions.

In a new European Economic Forecast, the European Commission expects a deeper recession and a slower recovery for the economy of the Union. However, the blow caused by the pandemic differs from country to country with some states and industries expected to recover faster due to internal factors.