5:38 8 August 2025
Poland resists China shock
Imports of Chinese cars and machinery into Poland surged 57.1% over the past decade—more than in Germany, Hungary, or the Czech Republic. This "China shock 2.0" has rocked Europe’s industrial core, but Poland appears less vulnerable.
Coined in 2013 by economist David H. Autor, the "China shock" originally described how China’s 2001 WTO entry disrupted U.S. industries. Today, the shock targets Europe’s automotive and machinery sectors—central to GDP in Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
Yet Poland’s manufacturing output rose 12.2% since 2021, compared to declines of 5.5% in Germany and 6.2% in Hungary. Why? Poland's industrial base is more diversified and less dependent on vulnerable sectors.
Still, rising tariffs and subsidies show the EU is treating this as a political challenge. But retaliatory trade from China, particularly against EU exports, may shape the future as much as protectionist policies.
