The ongoing tussle over the EU-China investment agreement has generated a number of interesting broad questions for European policymakers and academics. Here are three:

1. Strategic autonomy? Some in EU firmly believe they are showing its geopolitical might when it’s capable of getting concessions from China while acting independently from the US. Others think it’s achieving the opposite: empowering the global standing of a systemic rival.

2. “EU” interest? Merkel is the most vocal voice to get the deal done for obvious German business gains with what’s until now unimaginable access to the Chinese market. But what about smaller EU countries - or even big economies with less interest in the Chinese market like NL?

3. Geopolitical union? Most EU officials—including the agreement’s advocates—say the deal won’t change the to-be-renewed transatlantic ties, incl on China. Beijing sees it differently, believing that closer CN-EU ties can in some ways prevent an all-out united EU-US front.