Europe became aware of its new secondary role in Africa during the latest round of trade negotiations at the EU-Africa summit last month. The EU, which had grown accustomed to getting what it wants from Africa, was fiercely rebuffed by the majority of African nations that refused the terms proposed by the European Commission.

The reason African countries could now stand up to their former colonizers was an alternative and more attractive Chinese market, which has been offering African countries better prices and more investment…

Europe’s inability to bully Africa into submission — though a few countries have since caved in and signed the economic-partnership agreement — confirmed China’s status as Africa’s preferred trading and aid partner…

“China doesn’t ask anything of them,” Fredrik Erixon said. “They identify products and they make the investments and of course that’s the relationship that any African government would prefer. Europe’s demanding approach has raised the transaction cost to the point where it’s impossible for any African government to prefer European investment or aid to Chinese investment and aid.”

Commerce and trade relationships trump EU ideological priorities. Shock and amazement!

It’s a stretch for some to understand that doing business with someone is part of getting to where you can do more than business. And not the other way round.