Traditionally the European Commission has been able to use trade agreements to globalise its norms and regulations. There was an extensive EU regulatory agenda during Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s first term (2019-24). US President Donald Trump’s re-election last year has reinforced the sense that the EU needs to focus on growth and openness. Relations with major trading partnersThere has been much talk that closer ties with China could offset the impact of transatlantic trade tensions and higher US tariffs. However, the EU has grown more hawkish on China in recent months (see EU/CHINA: Trade ties will remain tense – April 15, 2025).