Europe wants to rebalance trade with Beijing, but can't quit Chinese air conditioners

According to CNBC, a historic heat wave sweeping Europe is creating unprecedented demand for Chinese-made air conditioners, presenting an awkward contradiction for European policymakers. The European Union has been pushing to rebalance trade relations with Beijing, but the extreme temperatures reveal Europe's current dependence on affordable Chinese cooling systems. It highlights a tough challenge the EU faces: pursuing strategic decoupling from China while confronting the practical realities of extreme climate and energy demand.

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