German Economy Minister Says China Open to Hearing German Firms' Concerns; EU Plans to Expand Tariffs and Quotas on China

During her visit to China, German Economy Minister Katharina Reiche said on Thursday, May 28, in Beijing that she had conveyed major concerns of German businesses to Chinese authorities during her trip, and that China has indicated it will respond to some of these issues.

Reiche told the media in Beijing on Thursday: "This sends a very positive signal from China, indicating its willingness to cooperate in a spirit of mutual trust and constructiveness."

She noted that Germany and China discussed a range of issues German companies face when investing in China, including supply chain barriers, insufficient market transparency, and localization requirements.

According to data from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, bilateral goods trade between China and Germany is expected to reach approximately €250 billion (about $291.2 billion) in 2025, with China once again becoming Germany's largest trading partner. Currently, around 5,000 German companies are operating in China.

Reiche stated: "China's economy is vast and pivotal, so maintaining a stable, trusting, and forward-looking relationship with China is crucial. At the same time, both sides must also possess the rational capacity to address sensitive issues and disputes."

Meanwhile, within the EU, efforts are intensifying to strengthen measures against competitive pressures from Chinese goods.

European Commission Executive Vice President for Industrial Policy, Stéphane Séjourné, is pushing for a more systematic use of import quotas and tariffs across the EU to protect European industries from the impact of competition from China.

Reiche said she also raised this issue with Chinese counterparts during her visit, highlighting European businesses’ concerns that China produces large volumes of goods that cannot be absorbed by its domestic market and are then exported to Europe, further increasing pressure on European industry.

Reiche remarked: "While China is willing to listen to European concerns, it usually still takes time before such issues are genuinely integrated into policy considerations."

Source: rfi

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866511495136264/

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