Europe’s chemical and plastics industry is facing its deepest structural crisis in decades, with companies including BASF, Lanxess and Wacker cutting jobs and capacity. Brussels is increasingly pointing to cheap Chinese imports as a major cause, while industry groups warn that high European energy costs are making local production uncompetitive. EU countries are now considering tougher trade safeguards, including tariffs and quotas, to shield domestic producers from further pressure.
Personal Remarks
The EU wanted to be the bravest player at the global economic table, only to discover it was the one with the most to lose. Trump’s America is enjoying the moment, China has seized the technological edge, and Europe has squandered its strategic advantage. At some point, Brussels needs an introspective moment: stop blaming the rest of the world and start asking how much of this decline is self-inflicted.