At the meeting they had yesterday, the Spanish prime minister, Friday, Pedro Sanchez and the Chinese president, Jig Beijing called on the EU to stand by its side against the “intimidation” of Trump’s duties. However, according to analysts, even if duties have exacerbated the relations between the world’s largest economy and Beijing, China and the European Union are unlikely that narrow allies will become quickly.

“I do not see the EU and China unite against the US,” Max Bergman, director of the European program, Russia and Eurasia at the Center of Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told CNBC.

At a geopolitical level, the two forces may are more open for more cooperation But economic conflicts and existing trade and competition issues are a major obstacle, he explained.

“The possibilities for EU and China economic alignment are limited, and both are export -based economies and therefore are tough competitors, Especially in the fields of automotive and clean technology, “Bergman noted.

“I believe that there will be interest on both sides, but at the same time deep practical restrictions on both. If China is not willing to make some great concessions, I find it difficult to see the EU join a strategy of deeper commitment, “he said.

EU -China tensions

The EU and China have a dual relationship. While China is one of EU’s largest trade partners, in addition to the US, economic relations between the two also have trade -ranks in terms of trade with measures and countermeasures.

The EU has long claimed that Beijing is subsidizing key areas such as electric vehicles, batteries, steel and aluminum in a way that is harmful to global markets and competitiveness. Last year, The EU hit China with duties in electric vehicles, as a result.

In terms of retaliation, Beijing has launched anti -pork and brandy export investigations to the EU, as well as research against EU dairy subsidies.

And it’s not just the trade that causes tensions in the EU-China relationship, CNBC, Karsen Nickel, Managing Director of Teneo, told CNBC. He added that there are “fundamental differences” between the two “no matter what is happening to the US”.

“This has to do with unsolved questions about surplus production capacity in China. It has to do with the ongoing reservations in the European Parliament, especially about the human rights situation, and has to do with concerns about China’s support for Russia and Ukraine, “he explained.

Ian Bremer, founder and president of the Eurasia Group, also stressed that there is one ‘Deep’ European mistrust toward China In areas such as intellectual property and technological surveillance, as well as industrial policy.

This “does not disappear with the United States becoming an opponent,” he told CNBC.

Attempts to come closer

However, China could try and use the opportunity to relax US-EU ties in an effort to get a closer bond with the EU, analysts comment.

“China will especially see an opportunity to dismantle the transatlantic alliance and bring Europe closer,” CSIS said.

On the other hand, some Europeans may imagine “compensation between the US and China and may make China reduce its support in the Russian defense industry and open financially,” he added.

China and the EU seem to have come closer last.

At a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday with Chinese President Xi Jing he called for a more balanced relationship between the two. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang to visit Europe earlier this year, referring to closer ties and deeper cooperation.

Earlier this week, European Commission President Ursula von der Laene and Chinese Prime Minister Lee Chiang talked to the phone – with the EU leader stressing “China’s crucial role in dealing with a possible diversion of trade in the trade” Duties, the European Commission proposed.

Will there be a change in relationships?

But in the end, Nickel says, “the focus is on managing this very provocative situation for the global economy.”

“I think it is quite clear that this does not mean that the underlying challenges in the EU-China relationship have been improved overnight,” he added.

US tariff action could even to make things harder Between China and the EU, Nickel comments, as they could aggravate existing issues, such as the surplus production capacity of Chinese exports.

Separately, “Trump duties will force Brussels to harden their commercial stance towards Beijing beyond current efforts to tackle economic imbalances with China that threaten European industries,” said Eurasia Group analysts.

At the same time, European policy -making bodies will use “milder rhetoric” against China to avoid triggering a trade war on two fronts. “But this is very unlikely to be translated into collaboration with Brussels-Pkinu against Washington,” they concluded.