We live in economically and geopolitically turbulent times. Considering that the EU can, in all likelihood, no longer depend on the unconditional support of its most important trade partner, the USA, the EU has been accelerating the process of concluding free trade agreements with Canada, Japan, Australia, the MERCOSUR countries, Singapore and the ASEAN member states. However the absence of China from this list is striking. Nevertheless, China and the EU could both benefit from closer collaboration. Professor Filip Abraham and Jan Van Hove take a close look at the trade and investment relationship between the two parties - from the perspective of the EU.