Trade & economics
Europe has suffered from weak economic growth in recent years. Consumption is stagnant, public budgets strained and exports face increasing headwinds under the dual pressure of a US turn towards protectionism and competition from the unrelenting rise of Chinese exports. How can Europe revive economic growth and secure a stable environment for trade? What role can EU-UK relations play?
Letters: Dealing with Chinese trade
18 December 2025
The Economist
The Economist recommended that Europe should not raise trade barriers in response to China’s ballooning exports of cars, machine-tools and other manufactured goods (”From customer to killer”, November 22nd).
Wie der Autoindustrie wirklich geholfen werden kann
27 October 2025
Die Zeit
Lucas Guttenberg, Nils Redeker und Sander Tordoir forschen bei der Bertelsmann-Stiftung, dem Jaques Delors Zentrum und dem Centre for European Reform zur Zukunft Europas. Hier schreiben sie über ihre gemeinsame Vision für die europäische Autoindustrie.
Nos Nieuwsuur: Klimaat tijdens de campagne
26 October 2025
Grote landen en ook de Europese Commissie roeien langzaam terug van vergaande klimaatmaatregelen. Waarom speelt het tijdens de verkiezingscampagne een ondergeschikte rol? We bespreken het met onze politiek duider Arjan Noorlander en met Sander Tordoir, hoofdeconoom bij het Centrum voor Europese Hervorming.
Bloomberg - The Pulse: Draghi report a year on
05 September 2025
Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the CER spoke to The Pulse one year on from the Draghi report (from 16:12 mins).
Times Radio: Trump's EU tariffs a political 'display of power'
26 July 2025
The EU "doesn't have a high tariff level" against the US; the Trump deal is more about securing "a big political win," says research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, Aslak Berg.
Der zweite China-Schock: Wogegen sich Deutschland und Europa wappnen müssen
24 July 2025
Die Politische Meinung
Die deutsche Industrie gerät unter Druck – nicht durch Innovationsrückstände, sondern durch eine strukturelle globale Verschiebung: China produziert am Bedarf vorbei, die USA schotten sich ab, und Deutschland verliert Teile seiner traditionellen Exportmärkte.
For European economic policy, the new world has yet to be born
23 July 2025
Intereconomics
As Europe revisits its economic strategy – spurred by calls to “make Europe competitive again” – it must move beyond stylised contrasts and ask what it takes to build and scale technological capacity today.
BBC News: Sefcovic: Tariff deal between EU-UK is 'close'
14 July 2025
"We are getting very close to a trade war, which is the last thing that the EU wants. Their strategy so far has been to deescalate and delay and that has not paid off.
Taking the Pulse: Should the EU bite the 10 per cent tariff bullet with the United States?
10 July 2025
Carnegie Endowment
If the EU wanted a shot at pushing tariffs below 10 per cent, it would have had to retaliate forcefully alongside China after Liberation Day, on April 2, 2025. But a 10 per cent tariff is manageable for EU exports and was priced in by Wall Street.
How to survive a trade war: A case for EU burden-sharing
27 June 2025
The Parliament Magazine
President Donald Trump’s tariff pause is a chance for the EU to get its house in order and figure out a measured response to the US trade threats.
Deutschland muss grünes Wachstum schaffen
10 June 2025
Die Zeit
Deutschland ist Europas stärkster Standort für grüne Technologien. Doch die schwarz-rote Regierung verspielt diese Chance mit falscher Deregulierung.
NTV: Trump'ın Gümrük Vergisi Tarifeleri Sürdürülebilir Mi?
22 April 2025
ABD ve Çin arasındaki kısasa kısas devam eden ticaret savaşı gidişatı ne olacak? Tüm bu soruları ve daha fazlasını NTV Dış haberler Editörü Sare Selvi Öztürk Avrupa Reform Merkezi'nde baş ekonomist olarak görev yapan Sander Tordoir ile konuştu.
Taking the Pulse: In light of Trump’s tariffs, should Europe get closer to China?
17 April 2025
Carnegie Europe
The EU and China are both trade-surplus blocs: They rely on external demand and need buyers, not sellers, as the United States reduces its demand.
Econoom Sander Tordoir over de Trump-tarieven: “Xi Jinping zal zich in de handen wrijven om dit geschenk”
04 April 2025
De Standaard
Na Vietnam en Mexico zijn de VS het grootste slachtoffer van de handelstarieven van Donald Trump, zegt econoom Sander Tordoir.
RTL: Duits parlement stemt voor investeringen
18 March 2025
Sander Tordoir of the CER, spoke to RTL to discuss debt brake reform and the outlook for Germanys fiscal policy and economy.
Een Duitse begrotingsimpuls biedt de EU hoop
12 March 2025
NRC Handelsblad
Duitsland kan door het loslaten van de rem op staatsschulden investeren in defensie. De EU versterkt zo zijn strategische positie, stelt Sander Tordoir.
Heavy industry is Europe’s Trump card
07 March 2025
Foreign Policy
Whether or not the United States now qualifies as Europe’s adversary, it’s clear that its postwar role as guarantor of Europe’s security is over.
De Duitse economie krimpt, fabrieken sluiten. Het Duitse ‘zelfbeeld’ is niet houdbaar, zegt econoom Tordoir
03 January 2025
NRC Handelsblad
Duitsland blijkt opeens de oude man van Europa. De digitalisering blijft achter, de infrastructuur is verouderd en China ondermijnt de Duitse industriële basis. „Dit is een existentiële bedreiging.”