European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a quick visit to Kiev yesterday, where she reported on the new sanctions the EU is proposing to impose on Russia, including “secondary sanctions” against China and others for supposedly breaking existing EU bans on exports to Russia. “First, we are sharpening our existing tools,” she said. “We are adding more products to our transit ban. For example, advanced tech products or aircraft parts that are going to third countries via Russia will no longer end up in the Kremlin’s hands,” she remarked.
“Secondly, we are proposing a new tool to combat sanctions circumvention. If we see that goods are going from the European Union to third countries and then end up in Russia, we could propose to the member states to sanction those goods’ export,” von der Leyen declared.
The European Union also intends to impose a ban on the transit of many goods through the territory of the Russian Federation, trying to strengthen compliance with the previously imposed measures.
The formal meeting to discuss these new sanctions began on May 10, but did not start well for the EU dictatorship. Reuters reports: “European Union states were holding a first discussion on Wednesday [May 10] on proposed new sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine that would target Chinese and Iranian firms and allow export curbs on third countries for busting trade restrictions. Talks among the EU envoys were set to be heated, according to one diplomat, with Russia hawks upset the plan does not go far enough but others wary of damaging their international ties. Widely differing perspectives mean a quick deal is not expected, several diplomats said.
“Diplomatic sources familiar with the proposal—drafted by von der Leyen’s [EU] Commission—said it also included blacklisting ‘tens’ of new companies, including from China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.”
Reuters admits that all 27 EU countries must agree for new (11th round) sanctions to take effect. These would be the first sanctions on China over the war in Ukraine. They also say some countries are “frustrated the Commission’s proposal did not include stopping Russian diamond imports or nuclear energy cooperation.”
In a speech before the European Parliament, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz endorsed von der Leyen’s call for “smart de-risking” of Europe from China, and said, according to Bloomberg: “Our relationship with China is aptly described by the triad ‘partner, competitor, systemic rival’—although without a doubt rivalry and competition on China’s part have increased,” Scholz said. “The EU is aware of this development and is reacting accordingly.”
The Financial Times claims to have seen a draft of new sanctions that will be included against Chinese companies trading with Russia. “Eight Chinese businesses accused of selling equipment that could be used in weapons have been listed in a new package of sanctions, seen by the Financial Times, which will be discussed by EU member states this week,” the FT wrote. “The punitive measures are so far just proposals, subject to the unanimous approval of the EU’s member states.” Perhaps the EU will have to follow through on their threat to end the unanimity policy, which could well end the EU itself. (https://www.ft.com/content/7b482ea6-49ff-4212-8475-87e74a16f8c5)
