Businesses will have to adjust to new realities of Chinese trade

China is reducing its dependence on the US market, creating opportunities – and hurdles – for European firms

Cars, I was surprised to read recently, are the EU’s number one export to China. Surprised, that is, until I found myself in Beijing on a business trip some days ago. There may indeed be nine million bicycles in Beijing (if Katie Melua was right), but to this casual observer there are nearly as many Volkswagens, Skodas and Mercedes-Benz.

While much of the focus in the Irish media in recent times has been ...