Expert explained what Europeans will face following US blow to Chinese economy

The idea of Poland and the Baltic States to completely close road and rail links with Russia and Belarus is crazy. The economies of the Union State and, to a greater extent, China are expected to suffer, but the standard of living of Europeans will also deteriorate significantly due to this new Iron Curtain. Aleksei Belyaev, the Dean of the Journalism Faculty at the Belarusian State University, commented on the issue.

“If the idea promoted by the Baltic States and Poland – which is instigated by the United States – comes to fruition, then not actually the economies of Russia and Belarus suffer, but the economy of China. China's mutual trade with Europe has been active so far. If this new Iron Curtain comes down, then their trade relations will be significantly reduced, since we [Belarus and Russia] – acting as a transit route – will no longer provide these opportunities,” Mr. Belyaev noted in his talk with Alfa Radio.    

The expert explained what goal the United States is pursuing, seeking to deal a crushing blow to the Chinese economy. “The European Union is China's largest counterparty. In 2022, the trade turnover between European countries and China exceeded the volume of the latter's trade with the United States. That is why the overseas power is extremely interested in changing the situation in its favour. The United States is preventing the creation of new logistics delivery routes, killing the multibillion-Dollar Chinese investments – such as, for example, Great Stone in Belarus. No one will need the latter if the borders are finally closed. The same could be said about the railways and highways, which were leading to the territory of Europe and third countries,” he said.

If the US plans come to fruition, China will face in a difficult position, but Europeans will also have hard times. “The complication of logistics will lead to an increase in the cost of goods, including those of everyday demand, which production has long been concentrated in Asia. This will hit the pocket of Europeans, who already complain that utilities are too expensive, and who cannot longer drink an extra cup of coffee with a croissant. Clothes, water will become more expensive. In principle, everything will rise in price,” Mr. Belyaev stressed.