We revisit the impact of rising imports from China on within-firm labour productivity growth in the EU. We analyse the period
2003-2016 which covers the recent increase in technology-intensive imports from China. We uncover a changing relationship
over time. Higher fractions of Chinese imports in aggregate imports exert an adverse effect on productivity growth in in later
periods, especially after the financial crisis 2008-09. This mirrors the changing nature of trade with China, reversing the
growth-enhancing effect of import-competition. This effect is more pronounced for domestic firms, while multinationals are
able to benefit from Chinese imports. Both effects become stronger at higher productivity-growth intensities. The growth-dampening
effects particularly strong for firms in low-tech industries and in Southern Europe.
JEL-Codes:F14, L20, L60, J24
Keywords:Import Competition, Multinational Firms, Productivity, Manufacturing, EU, China
Forschungsbereich:Industrie-, Innovations- und internationale Ökonomie