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Heatwave boosts Chinese air conditioner demand in Europe
The EU is tightening trade restrictions on Beijing at the same time that extreme temperatures are driving shoppers toward Chinese-made portable units.
A record-breaking heatwave is sharply increasing demand for Chinese air conditioners across Europe, with observers saying the surge highlights a mismatch between EU trade policy rhetoric and everyday cost-of-living concerns, according to SCMP Economy.
The weather disruption has also been severe, with the outlet citing impacts that include transit infrastructure disruptions, droughts, and thousands of heat-related excess deaths. Countries including France and the Netherlands have issued red alerts as governments face criticism over emergency management and underinvestment in public services and climate policy.
While Europeans are flocking to buy Chinese air conditioners, Brussels is seeking to narrow its record trade deficit with China through new restrictions. SCMP Economy reports that the situation has prompted discussion that the EU is shifting blame for the deficit rather than addressing structural shortcomings.
Ding Chun, director of the Centre for European Studies at Fudan University, told SCMP Economy that ordinary citizens tend to focus on immediate daily-life realities, underscoring what he described as a disconnect between EU leadership and public priorities.