Ministry of Commerce: Hopes that the German Association of the Automotive Industry will continue to play an active role in resolving the EU's anti-subsidy measures against EVs from China as soon as possible

Cailian Press reported on April 27 that Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao met with Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). The two sides exchanged views on topics such as Sino-German cooperation in the automotive industry and the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into EVs imported from China. Wang Wentao stated that Sino-German cooperation in the automotive industry has a solid foundation, and German automakers have been witnesses, participants, and beneficiaries of China's reform and opening-up. China's door to the outside world will only open wider, and its policies on utilizing foreign investment remain unchanged and will not change. He hoped that German automakers would seize the opportunities and strengthen their confidence in investing in China.

Wang Wentao noted that the current international situation is complex and severe, with unilateralism and protectionism in some countries seriously undermining the international economic and trade order and the stability of global industrial and supply chains, with the automotive industry bearing the brunt. China and the EU are two pillars upholding multilateralism and free trade. He hoped that the VDA would continue to play an active role in promoting Germany and the EU to firmly uphold the multilateral trading system and the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and work with China to resolve the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into EVs imported from China as soon as possible on the basis of respecting international economic and trade rules.

Müller said that recently, the VDA and several of its member companies participated in the Auto Shanghai show and were deeply impressed by the electrification and digitalization of China's automotive industry, further reinforcing their view of China as the most important market. The automotive industry should adhere to globalization and address challenges through openness and cooperation, as blindly imposing additional tariffs is not conducive to global economic stability. The VDA firmly opposes trade protectionism and looks forward to positive progress in the negotiations on the EU-China EV case as soon as possible, to properly resolve trade frictions. It also encourages German automakers to expand their investments in China and welcomes Chinese automakers to invest in Germany, jointly promoting the upgrading and technological innovation of the automotive industry.