Germany’s Transport Minister, Volker Wissing, has emphasized the importance of equal competition over a trade war in response to the European Commission’s investigation into the import of electric cars from China. In an interview with Stuttgarter Zeitung and Stuttgarter Nachrichten, Wissing, who belongs to the FDP party, expressed that Germany aims to compete in the market rather than close it off.
Wissing highlighted that creating an environment where companies can continue to add value domestically and maintain their competitive edge in international trade is crucial. He stressed the need for international trade to take place in an equal and standardized competitive environment to avoid escalating to a full-blown trade war through punitive tariffs.
The European Commission initiated an investigation to determine if Chinese exporters of electric cars receive unfair advantages due to subsidies, resulting in Chinese vehicles being approximately 20 percent cheaper compared to those produced in the EU. The investigation may lead to punitive tariffs being imposed as a response. However, Wissing remains committed to fostering fair competition in the international market to safeguard the interests and competitiveness of German companies.