As the European Union grapples with intensifying competition from subsidized Chinese imports, EU Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné has rallied over 1,100 CEOs and business leaders in a high-profile op-ed calling for a bold “Made in Europe” strategy to prioritize local production in strategic sectors.
Published across major European newspapers on February 1, 2026, the piece warns that without an “ambitious, effective, and pragmatic industrial policy,” the EU risks becoming a mere “playground” for rivals like China and the United States.
This push comes ahead of the European Commission’s delayed proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act, now slated for February 25, 2026, which aims to introduce preferences for EU-made products in public procurement and state aid to counter unfair global competition.
Séjourné, a French centrist and the Executive Vice President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, framed the initiative as essential for sovereignty: “We must establish, once and for all, a genuine European preference in our most strategic sectors. It is based on a very simple principle: Whenever European public money is used, it must contribute to European production and quality jobs.”
He drew parallels to “Made in China” and “Buy American” policies, arguing that Europe’s open market has left it vulnerable to distorted competition.
The op-ed garnered signatures from a diverse array of industry titans, spanning steel (ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel, Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe), pharmaceuticals (Novo Nordisk, Sanofi), automotive components (Continental, Michelin, Pirelli), aviation (Air France-KLM), and energy (Engie), among others.
Thyssenkrupp CEO Marie Jaroni, a signatory, invoked Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s warning, saying: “Those who are not sitting at the table now will end up on the menu… Steel is inextricably linked to this.”
The backdrop is Europe’s mounting alarm over Chinese dominance in critical sectors like clean energy, semiconductors, batteries, and electric vehicles, where state subsidies enable dumping at below-market prices.
Chinese customs data show EU imports from China rising 14.8% over the past year, with spikes of 15.5% in Germany, 17.5% in France, and 25.4% in Italy.
The EU has responded with provisional anti-dumping duties on Chinese EVs and investigations into subsidies for wind turbines and other goods. Former ECB President Mario Draghi, in a 2025 report, warned Europe must federate to avoid being “picked off one by one” by China and the U.S., advocating for strategic autonomy.
However, the “Made in Europe” push has ignited fierce internal divisions. France, Italy, and Spain champion the approach as vital to counter unfair trade, while Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the Czech Republic oppose it, fearing deterred foreign investment, inflated public tender costs, and reduced global competitiveness.
A December 2025 letter from nine EU nations urged “extreme caution” on buy-European policies.
The automotive sector, notably absent from signatories, has been vocal in opposition due to reliance on global supply chains. Ford of Europe President Jim Baumbick told Reuters: “Ford supports strengthening Europe’s industrial base, but the planned ‘Made in Europe’ rules must remain open to trusted partners like the UK and Turkey… excluding them would weaken production inside the EU itself.”
Bosch CEO Stefan Hartung cautioned the rules should address “level-playing field issues” rather than compensate for disadvantages. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius warned such requirements risk “driving up inflation and shrinking the market,” advocating a “scalpel” approach.
The Industrial Accelerator Act, initially dubbed the Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act but renamed for a broader scope, is now expected on February 25, 2026—delayed from December 2025 due to these splits. A leaked draft emphasizes accelerating decarbonization in energy-intensive industries like steel, streamlining permitting, mobilizing investments, and creating stockpiling centers for critical raw materials to enhance supply chain resilience. It includes a carbon intensity label for steel products and focuses on priority sectors for climate objectives and economic resilience.
The proposal integrates with the EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act, Critical Raw Materials Act, and upcoming 2028-2034 budget negotiations, where local content could influence funding. BusinessEurope and the European Round Table for Industry urge a balance to avoid disrupting global chains.
Against the backdrop of the bloc’s different interests, the “Made in Europe” debate tests its unity in a multipolar world, weighing protectionism against openness. With the Act’s proposal imminent, the EU faces a fundamental choice: double down on strategic autonomy through targeted preferences or risk alienating trade partners and investors in pursuit of self-sufficiency.









