Xi urges Germany to aid China in EU tariff dispute
Chinese media reported that Chinese leader Xi Jinping told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday that he hopes Germany will help resolve the issue of EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The leaders' meeting took place on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil.
"It is expected that Europe and China will resolve the issue of electric vehicles through dialogue and negotiations as quickly as possible, and the German side is willing to make active efforts in this matter," stated Xi, as quoted by the state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua.
During the meeting, which took place during the two-day G20 summit concluding on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Xi told Scholz that China is ready to cooperate with Germany to strengthen their strategic partnership.
A German government spokesperson noted that Scholz's meeting with Xi lasted 30 minutes. During this time, the chancellor discussed geopolitical issues, including the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, with the Chairman of the PRC.
Scholz also mentioned that his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding ending the war in Ukraine was "sobering."
China tightened cooperation with Russia
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China did not condemn the action and instead tightened cooperation with Russia in many areas, including the military, conducting joint military exercises and patrols.
The recently imposed EU tariffs on electric vehicles produced in China range from 7.8 to 35.3 percent. Beijing authorities have subsidized production, and China has filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against these tariffs.
