China Germany Photo:VCG
German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck will embark on a working visit to China this week, with plans to discuss topics including trade, climate protection, and energy policy with Chinese government officials, according to media reports on Monday.
The upcoming visit will mark Habeck's first trip to China, and it comes amid escalating trade tensions between China and the European Union (EU), after the bloc announced an additional tariff of up to 38.1 percent on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).
During his trip, Habeck will be accompanied by representatives from the German business community and lawmakers, with plans to meet political and business representatives in China. German media reports said that the two sides are expected to engage in "intense negotiations" during Habeck's trip.
Habeck's visit will undoubtedly focus on boosting mutual communication and understanding in the economic and trade sectors, an area of shared consensus between the two sides that holds significant importance, especially given the EU's escalating crackdown on Chinese products, Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Monday.
"Given the intensifying trade frictions with the EU, the China-Germany strategic dialogue needs to send clearer signals to the world," Cui said, adding that the visit is an opportunity for the German government to further clarify its stance and seek bilateral cooperation rather than confrontation.
The German Economy Ministry said Habeck will not be involved in the tariff negotiations directly but would push for fairer trade conditions during meetings with Chinese officials, Reuters reported on Saturday.
A German Economy Ministry spokesperson said the EU must find a solution that conforms with World Trade Organization (WTO) norms. After the EU tariff decision, Habeck said "there is now an opportunity to try and hopefully succeed in stopping" the threat of a spiraling tariff escalation, according to Reuters and Bloomberg reports.
Cui noted that both sides will inevitably discuss automotive tariff issues, due to the importance of China-Germany trade relations and shared economic interests.
"The two sides mutually benefit from cooperation in EVs and green industries, and Germany, as a pivotal leader of the EU, should play a more proactive role in preventing trade friction escalation," Cui said.
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on Monday that following domestic industry requests, it will launch an anti-dumping investigation into imported pork and pig by-products originating from the EU.
An official from MOFCOM said that China's anti-dumping investigation has been initiated in line with WTO rules, noting that the investigation will be conducted according to the law, and will fully protect the rights of all interested parties before an objective and impartial ruling is made.
As Europe's largest economy, Germany's voice carries particular weight, and its leading car manufacturers have strongly opposed the EU tariff decision, calling it a protectionist move that will only harm the European auto industry.
According to data from Germany's Federal Statistical Office on May 17, in the first quarter of 2024, Germany's trade with China reached €60 billion ($64.23 billion), making China its second-largest trading partner.
In the same period, 25.9 percent of the EVs sold in Germany were imported from China, official data showed. During the first quarter, Germany's top exports to China were motor vehicles and automotive parts, followed closely by machinery products.
据媒体周一报道，德国副总理兼经济部长罗伯特·哈贝克（Robert Habeck）本周将对中国进行工作访问，计划与中国政府官员讨论贸易、气候保护和能源政策等议题。
即将到来的访问将标志着哈贝克首次访问中国，正值中国与欧盟（EU）之间的贸易紧张局势升级之际，此前欧盟宣布对中国电动汽车（EV）征收高达38.1%的额外关税。访问期间，哈贝克将在德国商界和立法者代表的陪同下，计划与中国的政界和商界代表会面。德国媒体报道称，预计双方将在哈贝克访问期间进行“紧张的谈判”。
北京外国语大学区域与全球治理学院教授崔洪建表示，哈贝克此次访问无疑将侧重于促进经贸领域的相互沟通和了解，这是双方达成共识的领域，具有重要意义，尤其是在欧盟对中国产品的打压不断升级的情况下， 周一告诉《环球时报》。“鉴于与欧盟的贸易摩擦加剧，中德战略对话需要向世界发出更明确的信号，”崔说，并补充说，这次访问是德国政府进一步明确立场并寻求双边合作而不是对抗的机会。
据路透社周六报道，德国经济部表示，哈贝克不会直接参与关税谈判，但将在与中国官员的会晤中推动更公平的贸易条件。德国经济部发言人表示，欧盟必须找到符合世界贸易组织（WTO）规范的解决方案。据路透社和彭博社报道，在欧盟关税决定后，哈贝克表示，“现在有机会尝试并有望成功阻止”关税升级的威胁。崔指出，由于中德贸易关系的重要性和共同的经济利益，双方将不可避免地讨论汽车关税问题。
“双方在电动汽车和绿色产业方面的合作互惠互利，德国作为欧盟的关键领导者，应该在防止贸易摩擦升级方面发挥更积极的作用，”崔说。
中国商务部周一宣布，应国内行业要求，将对来自欧盟的进口猪肉和生猪副产品展开反倾销调查。商务部表示，中国的反倾销调查是按照世贸组织规则启动的，并指出调查将依法进行，在做出客观公正的裁决之前，将充分保护所有利害关系方的权利。
作为欧洲最大的经济体，德国的声音尤为重要，其主要汽车制造商强烈反对欧盟的关税决定，称其为保护主义举措，只会损害欧洲汽车工业。根据德国联邦统计局5月17日的数据，2024年第一季度，德国与中国的贸易额达到600亿欧元（642.3亿美元），使中国成为其第二大贸易伙伴。官方数据显示，同期，德国销售的电动汽车中有25.9%是从中国进口的。第一季度，德国对中国出口最多的是汽车和汽车零部件，紧随其后的是机械产品。
