Improvements to EU–China data flows unlikely – alternatives needed
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About trade
Published: 18 Feb 2026
Cross-border data flows between the EU and China remain limited. A new analysis from the National Board of Trade Sweden points to diverging regulation and security concerns as key reasons.
The EU’s system allows data transfer under legal safeguards, while China enforces strict controls linked to national security and data localisation. These differences make it harder for European firms to operate across borders.
The analysis recommends that the EU focus on managing these differences to reduce risks for companies.
Read the full analysis
Economic security and digital trade: the future of EU–China data flows