Germany wants equal competition, not a trade war, said Transport Minister Volker Wissing in reference to the European Commission’s investigation into the import of electric cars from China, which could result in punitive tariffs.
“We don’t want to close the market, we want to compete,” said the minister from the FDP party in an interview with Stuttgarter Zeitung and Stuttgarter Nachrichten, published on Wednesday.
The German government must ensure an environment that will enable companies to continue to create added value in their home country and to defend their position in international trade, explained Wissing.
“That’s why we want international trade in an equal and standardized competitive environment, not a trade war through punitive tariffs,” the minister added.
According to him, this is extremely important for a country like Germany, which relies heavily on global trade.
“We produce for the whole world and we want to do so in the future. When it comes to the quality of our products, our international position is excellent,” he asserted.
The European Commission opened an investigation last fall to determine whether Chinese exporters of electric cars are at an advantage thanks to subsidies. According to the EC, Chinese vehicles are usually about 20 percent cheaper than those produced in the EU. The investigation could result in the imposition of punitive tariffs.