German companies complain of discrimination. Economy Minister Altmaier wants to negotiate, therefore, the conditions of competition with China. The trade war with the United States during his visit to the topic.
Miao Wei, Minister of industry and information technology, welcomes Peter Altmaier
“We need to compete on equal terms without discrimination or disadvantage,” said Federal Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) before 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.
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.
The focus of the discussions Altmaiers also the development in the trade war between the US and China. The Chinese Vice Premier is also the chief negotiator of China in trade talks with the United States.
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.
It Altmaiers is the second visit within two months in China. At the end of April to the summit about China’s Initiative for a new silk road in Beijing, traveled.
jv/stu (dpa, afp)