Key facts
- EU proposes trade 'kill switch' to restrict market access.
- Mechanism targets economic coercion.
- All 27 EU leaders back the proposal.
- Chemicals and machinery are priority sectors.
The European Union is advancing a proposal for a "kill switch" mechanism designed to swiftly restrict single-market access in response to economic coercion. This move comes despite a warning from Beijing against expecting concessions through pressure. The initiative, which has the backing of all 27 EU leaders according to chief Ursula von der Leyen, follows a Franco-German proposal and identifies chemicals and machinery as priority sectors.