How will the US–China rivalry reshape global security and Europe's strategic choices?
In close cooperation with the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU and the European China Knowledge Network, the EUISS co-organised a panel discussion on the dimensions of the US–China competition and what it means for Europe and the wider world.
The strategic competition between Washington and Beijing now extends well beyond their bilateral relationship. It is playing out across global supply chains, economic security, and geopolitical flashpoints—shaped by contestation over critical raw materials and high technology, and by shifting security priorities that increasingly influence US actions abroad.
At the same time, both powers face significant domestic pressures:
In the United States, growth—boosted by the AI sector—is challenged by inflation and intensifying competition in key industries.
In China, a structural slowdown, deflationary pressures, overcapacity, and unemployment are reshaping economic and political choices.
Against this backdrop, our panellists looked past the daily headlines to discuss how the rivalry is evolving and the implications globally and for the EU in particular. They also discussed what is coming next after the Supreme Court's ruling on President Trump's tariffs on Friday, 20 February 2026.
Speakers:
- Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook — Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor, Programme "Europe's Future", Bertelsmann Foundation
- Ties Dams — Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael
- Alicia García-Herrero — Chief Economist for Asia Pacific, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking
- Abigaël Vasselier — Strategic Coordinator on Asia Pacific, European External Action Service
- Brigitte Gerstmann — COASI Delegate, Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU
- Sandra Hochstöger — COTRA Delegate, Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU
- Tim Rühlig — Senior Analyst for Asia/Global China, European Union Institute for Security Studies (moderator)
