Kiel-MERICS Policy Panel

The Kiel–MERICS Policy Panel on “China Shock 2.0: How Can Europe Shape Its Strategic Response to Geoeconomic Disruption?” will take place in the framework of the 3rd Kiel-Göttingen-CEPR Conference on China in the Global Economy.

China remains the world’s foremost exporter and a major global investor, with an economic footprint that continues to shape global markets and political relations. Its state-led economic model and the close alignment of economic and political objectives distinguish China from Western economies, firmly positioning it at the centre of contemporary geoeconomic dynamics. Renewed geopolitical tensions, shifting trade policies, and heightened strategic rivalry—particularly following the return of the Trump administration in the United States in 2025—have added new volatility and uncertainty to international economic relations. Frictions over market access, competition practices, and strategic industries have intensified. As these dynamics evolve, the need for rigorous, policy-relevant academic research on China’s global economic role has become more pressing than ever.

Building on the success of its previous editions, the 3rd Kiel-Göttingen-CEPR China Conference will once again bring together leading international scholars to analyse China’s role in the global economy. Hosted in central Berlin, the conference aims to deepen dialogue between cutting-edge academic research and policy practice. By providing a forum for exchange between researchers, business practitioners, and policymakers, the conference seeks to advance informed debate on China’s economic impact and its implications for international economic relations.

Speakers:

• Jens Eskelund (President, European Chamber of Commerce in China) 
• Katharina Erhardt (Professor, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf; Research Director & Head of Industrial Policy Lab, Kiel Institute and CEPR) 
• Mikko Huotari (Director, Mercator Institute for China Studies) 
• Joanna Szychowska (Director, Directorate B - Asia (I), Services and Investment, Digital Trade, Intellectual Property and Public Procurement, DG Trade, European Commission)

Moderated by Finn Mayer-Kuckuk (Head of Team Geoeconomics, Süddeutsche Zeitung) 

Both the Global China Conversation and the Kiel-MERICS Policy Panel will take place in a hybrid format, with online participation available via Zoom. Yon can register for the Global China Conversations event series to receive the link for online participation.