Leaked German-French plan to sideline China draws Beijing retaliation threat ahead of EU trade talks

A leaked proposal by Germany and France to rapidly reduce China's access to the European market has triggered a Chinese threat of countermeasures, escalating tensions before a key EU-China trade meeting next week. The plan's authenticity and scope remain unconfirmed, but the public threat signals a hardening of Beijing's stance. This development raises the risk of a broader trade confrontation between the EU and China, with potential implications for global supply chains and market sentiment.