It’s been a busy few weeks for Chinese diplomacy, with Xi Jinping making a rare trip to North Korea while tensions between Beijing and Brussels continue to climb over trade, industrial policy, and the future of Europe’s manufacturing base.

• On this week’s Trivium China Podcast, host Andrew Polk is joined by Trivium’s Head of Geopolitical Research Joe Mazur and Head of Clean Energy and EV Research Cosimo Ries to unpack these two critically important developments in China’s external relations.

First, Andrew and Joe break down Xi’s first trip to North Korea in nearly seven years and what it reveals about Beijing’s priorities amid shifting regional dynamics.

The two discuss:

• Why Xi chose North Korea for his first foreign trip of 2026
• China’s complicated relationship with its only formal treaty ally
• How North Korea’s growing ties with Russia are reshaping Beijing’s calculations
• What practical outcomes may emerge from the visit

Then, in the second half of the pod, Andrew, Joe, and Cosimo turn to Europe, where concerns about Chinese industrial competition are fueling calls for tougher trade and investment measures.

The conversation covers:

• Whether “China Shock 2.0” is the right way to think about Europe’s challenges
• Growing tensions between the EU and China over trade imbalances and industrial policy
• Why clean energy, EVs, and advanced manufacturing sit at the center of the dispute
• How Chinese companies are responding through localization and investment in Europe
• Whether Europe and China are headed toward a full-blown trade war – or a prolonged period of managed friction

As always, the guys cover a lot of ground, so sit back and enjoy!