China's trade minister calls on the EU to be open towards car manufacturers

Beijing. Chinese Trade Minister Wang Wentao has called on the European Union to keep its markets open to Chinese automakers and refrain from protectionism to ensure a "fair, open and non-discriminatory" environment.

"China is not the cause of the EU's economic and trade problems, but a partner in solving them," Wang said in a ministry statement after his meeting on Monday with Hildegard Müller, president of the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). “We don’t want the EU to rely on protectionism or restrict or close its markets, which would lead to markets worldwide sealing themselves off from one another.”

Wang's comments come as Germany prepares economic security measures to protect strategic industries from China. This could include new tariffs on hybrid vehicles and stricter export controls.

Beijing is committed to finding solutions to trade issues in the automotive sector through a China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism, Wang said at the meeting with VDA President Müller.

In another conversation on Monday with Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius, he described the automotive industry as a key area of ​​cooperation between China and the EU. Wang would like to see Mercedes-Benz and other European automakers expand their investments in China, he said. In addition to his position on the Mercedes board, Källenius is president of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).

EU leaders plan to meet next month to discuss the trade deficit with China and possible new instruments to respond to the People's Republic's trade practices. Beijing and Brussels have agreed to set an October deadline to make progress on trade disputes.