Altmaier calls for fair competition with China

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German companies complain of discrimination. Economy Minister Altmaier has addressed, therefore, the conditions of competition with China during a visit to Beijing. The trade war with the United States was the topic.

Federal Minister Peter Altmaier has called on China to a better opening up of the market. “The Works are in progress, but the results are still not sufficiently concrete,” said Altmaier, after his talks with leading representatives of the Chinese government. He called for “a kind of roadmap. I have neither threats on the table, even things trivialized.”

“China and Germany agree to the multilateral world trading defend,” said the Minister. This must, however, apply also to equality. He discussed in Beijing, what needs to change. The market should be opened further. German companies should not be discriminated against.

In Beijing, Altmaier met with the Minister for the regulation of the Market, Xiao Yaqing. Both under a cooperation agreement. The German Minister wants to drive in Beijing, the investment agreement between China and the EU. It had to be led to a strategic dialogue on the design of trade relations with China, said Altmaier. The new EU Commission, the urgent task is to get a European industry to develop strategy and present industrial and political interests.

In the coming days, further talks are to take place, among others, with Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan. Furthermore, a Meeting with the economic Vice-Premier Liu He is recognized, before Altmaier, travels in the East China port city of Shanghai more.

“We need to compete on equal terms without discrimination or disadvantage,” said Altmaier prior to the start of his three-day China visit. “China and the European Union are partners but also competitors,” said Altmaier.

China was Germany’s largest trading partner. So it is necessary to deepen good economic relations. The trade volume between China and Germany has grown to 2018 to 12.7 billion euros on 199,3 billion euros. German exports rose by 8.1 percent to 93.1 billion euros.

Trade war with the USA

Altmaier said in Beijing, also worried about the trade war between the US and China, has led to a slowdown of growth in China and the mood of German companies is dampening. “Germany has an interest to prevent an escalation,” said Altmaier to the stalled trade talks between the two largest economies. “No one knows at the moment the output.” Altmaier showed critical of “unilateral steps on both sides”.

The two largest economies in the world are entangled for two years in a bitter Trade dispute. The U.S. government has assigned half of all Chinese imports with special duties. Trump is threatening to these punitive measures on all imports from China should be extended. The government in Beijing has reacted with counter-tariffs.

Security Risk Huawei

Also the actions of the US against the Chinese Telecom giant Huawei was part of the conflict, said Altmaier in Beijing. The Minister pointed out that in Germany, the Development of the new mobile radio network with the fast 5G Standard, the big network equipment suppliers participate significantly want, not be discriminated against. However, all of the “highest safety requirements”. The will set by law, tested and certified. “The Chinese side is aware that their Hard – and Software must meet the highest safety requirements”, – said Altmaier. He was confident, however, that “solutions will be found in mutual interest”.

The United States will consider technology from Huawei, in principle, as a security risk and warn their partners in front of it. US President, Donald Trump has set the group in may on a black list of companies, their business relations to its US partners are subject to strict controls. The procedure is a major setback for the leading power plant equipment supplier and the second largest smartphone provider.

It Altmaiers is the second visit within two months in China. At the end of April he had travelled to the summit on China’s Initiative for a new silk road in Beijing.

lh/jv/qu (dpa, afp)