Europe's Economy Stagnates Amid US-China Tolicies, India Emerges as Key Partner

A report states European economies are facing stagnation due to a costly tariff dispute with the US and a flood of low-priced Chinese imports, which have hurt employment and domestic production. Key EU nations like Germany, Italy, and France are registering alarmingly weak growth. The analysis recommends deeper economic integration with India, highlighting the potential of the recently concluded India-EU free trade agreement. It also points to the strategic importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) for creating diversified and resilient supply chains.

Key Points: Europe Stagnates, India Emerges as Reliable Economic Partner: Report

  • EU economy squeezed by US tariff dispute
  • Low-priced Chinese imports weaken EU industries
  • Major EU economies show weak growth
  • India-EU trade pact seen unlocking scale
  • IMEC corridor to build resilient supply chains
2 min read

US, China policies stagnate Europe as India emerges as reliable partner: Report

Report highlights Europe's economic slowdown from US tariffs and Chinese imports, positioning India as a credible alternative partner via trade deals and the IMEC corridor.

"has adversely impacted the EU's macroeconomic vitals like employment rate, domestic production, and trade balance - Maldives Insight report"

New Delhi, Jan 28

European economies are experiencing a slowdown bordering stagnation amid tariff dispute with the United States and low‑priced Chinese imports, a new report has said, adding that India emerged as a "credible alternative centre of economic partnership".

The report by Maldives Insight said that the EU's economy is being squeezed by a tariff dispute with the US that has raised export costs and dampened demand.

Meanwhile, a surge of low‑priced Chinese imports has widened bilateral trade deficits and weakened EU's domestic industries.

Import of cheap Chinese goods "has adversely impacted the EU's macroeconomic vitals like employment rate, domestic production, and trade balance," the report mentioned.

The Chinese export model is based on overproduction, overcapacity and price suppression, and openly bending the rules of free trade regimes, it added.

Germany, Italy and France, the growth engines of the EU economy, have shown considerably weak growth rates of 0.2 per cent, 0.9 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively, and thousands of German companies filed for insolvency in 2025.

Analysts recommended deeper economic ties between India and Europe, arguing that the recently concluded India‑EU free trade agreement would "unleash a vast cross-sector economies of scale and build resilient supply chains for both economies".

The ambitious the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), would act as a network of strategic corridors, creating a web of resilient and diversified supply chains across different geographies, the report detailed.

The report said that the rule-based order that global powers observed seems to be collapsing, adding that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron have recently publicly voiced similar sentiments.

It pointed at the "recent arm-twisting of Europe by the US on the Greenland issue, and as the constant threats of slapping high tariffs" and urged European and other major powers to diversify their markets.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
Finally, the world is seeing what we've known. China's model is unsustainable and hurts everyone else. Their overproduction floods markets and kills local industries. Europe turning to India is a smart, long-term move for supply chain security. Hope our government ensures this partnership benefits our MSMEs too.
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David E
Interesting perspective from this part of the world. As someone following global economics, diversification away from over-reliance on any single nation (China) is crucial. India's demographic dividend and growing tech sector make it a logical alternative. The success will depend on execution of these corridors and agreements.
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Ananya R
While this is positive news, we must be cautious. Becoming a "reliable partner" means we have to deliver consistently on quality, timelines, and scale. Our domestic infrastructure and bureaucratic red tape still need major improvements to truly compete on the global stage. Let's not celebrate too early.
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Vikram M
The US-China trade war creating opportunities for others is classic geopolitics. India should play this wisely. We need to focus on high-value manufacturing and services, not just become another source of cheap goods. The free trade agreement must be fair and protect our farmers and sensitive sectors.
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Sarah B
The report's point about the "rule-based order collapsing" is worrying. If major powers keep arm-twisting allies, it creates global instability. A strong India-EU partnership could help uphold some multilateral principles. Hope this leads to more collaboration on climate and tech standards too.

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