European Union develops new tool to restrict access to its internal market

On October 16-17, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the European Union is creating a mechanism to allow for the rapid and effective restriction of access to its internal market. This initiative, designed to bolster the bloc's trade defense capabilities, is based on a joint proposal by France and Germany and received unanimous support from the 27 EU member states during a recent summit in Brussels.

The measure is primarily aimed at addressing trade friction with third countries, most notably China, as officials seek to combat what they describe as unfair competition. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the agreement as a shift toward a more pragmatic trade policy, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed satisfaction with the united front displayed by the member states. Von der Leyen clarified that this new instrument will function alongside existing trade defense tools rather than replacing them.

Beijing has formally reacted to the announcement, calling on the European Union to refrain from implementing measures that it claims introduce discrimination against Chinese companies. The EU maintains that this step is necessary to shield its economic interests in an increasingly volatile global trade environment.