Last month the European Commission unveiled its new “Made in Europe” targets, tying access to subsidies in clean technology heavy industry and carmaking to local production and stricter conditions on foreign investment.
The objective of the new Industrial Accelerator Act is to strengthen the industrial base and strategic autonomy of the European economy. But its impact on European Research & Development multinationals that have grown in overseas markets should not be underestimated. Evidence shows that Europe is hit harder by external shocks than its rivals because its firms depend more heavily on foreign markets and cross-border supply chains.
Consider, for example, Asia accounted for 41% of German carmaker Mercedes‑Benz in 2025, while UK-headquartered drugmaker AstraZeneca generated about 43% of its 2024 sales in the US.