German Economy Minister Robert Habeck told Chinese officials in Beijing on Saturday that the European Union’s proposed tariffs on Chinese goods were not a “punishment”.
Habeck’s visit to China is the first by a senior European official since Brussels proposed heavy tariffs on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) to counter what the E.U. deemed to be excessively subsidized.
China warned on Friday before his arrival that escalating frictions with the EU over electric vehicles could trigger a trade war.
“It is important to understand that these are not punitive tariffs,” Habeck said during the first plenary session on dialogue on change and climate.
The economy minister said countries such as the US, Brazil and Türkiye have used punitive tariffs, but the EU has not. “Europe does things differently.”
Habeck said that for nine months, the European Commission examined in great detail whether Chinese companies were unfairly benefiting from subsidies.
Any countervailing tax measures considered by the EU “are not a punishment,” he said, adding that the measures were intended to compensate for the advantages Beijing gives to Chinese companies. Quoc.
Meeting with Zheng Shanjie, Chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, Habeck said the EU’s proposed tariffs aim to create a level playing field with China.
Zheng replied: “We will do everything to protect Chinese companies.”
