During his visit to China, Germany’s Economy Minister Robert Habeck had a candid conversation with Chinese officials in Beijing about the proposed European Union tariffs on Chinese goods. Habeck made it clear that these tariffs were not meant as a punishment but rather as a measure to address what the EU saw as excessive subsidies for Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs).
China had previously warned that escalating tensions with the EU over EVs could lead to a trade war. However, Habeck clarified that the EU’s approach to tariffs was different from that of countries like the U.S., Brazil, and Turkey. He emphasized that the EU’s measures were not punitive in nature but were intended to level the playing field with China.
The European Commission had spent nine months examining whether Chinese companies had unfairly benefited from subsidies, leading to the proposed tariffs. Habeck explained that any countervailing duty measures resulting from the EU review were meant to compensate for the advantages granted to Chinese companies by the Chinese government.
During a meeting with Zheng Shanjie, chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, Habeck reiterated his intentions behind the proposed tariffs. Zheng responded by stating that China would take steps to protect its companies in light of the EU’s actions. The dialogue between the two sides reflects ongoing discussions and negotiations surrounding trade relations between the EU and China.
