One should never underestimate the importance of language in the political arena. Here in Brussels, the term “trade defence instruments” is bandied about as though it is though such instruments are good for Europe’s economies. Elsewhere, people tend to use the term “anti-dumping”, but anti-dumping has a record of failure so obvious that a different term is used here for the same counterproductive, anti-market policies. Of course, everyone’s in favour of being defended, so “trade defence instruments” sound good, while acting as a cancer on Europe’s economies.

Unfortunately, EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson is now calling for greater use of “trade defence instruments” against China. He wants to take more action against what he calls the “Chinese juggernaut”. The result of this will be job losses in Europe, higher prices for for European consumer, and lower standards of living in member states. For example, using Commission figures, 250,000 jobs in the EU rely on steel-making, but 7m are employed in industries that rely on cheap steel. Therefore trying to protect steel-makers would be wholly counterproductive.

Mr Mandelson is playing a very dangerous game with European jobs. His position is one that will ensure low-value jobs that pay low wages, while simultaneously crippling Europe’s ability to create high wage jobs. He must be stopped.