It seems that the EU is not sleeping after all

I needed a break from the Internet: let's call it a "Linkedin Detox". It took me around a bit less than a year to retrieve my will to publish and share opinions on the web.

Anyway, let's not dwell into the past but focus on the future...

As usual, China is in the spotlight!

The Opening Ceremony on February 4th 2022 kick started the Beijing edition of the Winter Olympics, amidst tensions on alleged abuses and the ever increasing Beijing's international standing, which led to a "diplomatic boycott" of the Games by a coalition of "like minded" nations.

However, in my humble opinion, we should not focus on these matters except that for wishing good luck to all the athletes.

We should instead focus on what's happening in the real world, meaning the industry and business arenas.

In this article's title, I wrote that it seems that Europe is not sleeping after all...

I am surely sarcastic, but not completely.

I am not sure how to define the EU's position with regards to China. Some would say, and they might as well be right, that it has no position because it doesn't have a central government, therefore being merely a pawn in the global scenario, to be moved by the main global powers.

Anyway, recently two topics came out and they caught my attention:

1) The Implementing Regulation 2022/72

2) The proposal for a European Chip Act

So, what's happening?

The Implementing Regulation 2022/72 is a kind of a slap in the face for China, as it targets the sale of optical fiber cables (often used underwater), on the ground of dumping claims.

We all came to understand the importance of these cables, especially after the eruption of the volcano in Tonga, which almost left the Island disconnected from the rest of the World.

The second point, regarding the proposal for a European Chip Act, is to be seen as a positive news in my opinion.

Finally the EU is waking up by realizing that the current global supply chain is highly unstable (as the current pandemic docet). This proposal, which will be presented shortly, will probably allow Europe to be a bit less dependant from Asia (China and Taiwan) with regards to the chip and semiconductor manufacturing.

Too little too late?

I don't know but I want to be optimistic about this. A declared increase from the current 10% to a desired 20% of locally made chips in this decade would not drastically change the situation, but it is something nonetheless.

I am more worried about the public aid involved, risking to poison the normal competition, but this is another story!

And you? What do you think about these matters?

Feel free to let me know in the comment section!