On April 27, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao met with President of the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) Müller. The two sides had exchanges on China-Germany automotive industry cooperation and the EU’s anti-subsidy case against electric vehicles imported from China.

Wang Wentao stated that the foundation for cooperation in the automotive industry between China and Germany is solid. German auto companies are witnesses, participants, and beneficiaries of China’s reform and opening-up. China’s door of opening up will only open wider, and policies of utilizing foreign investment has not changed and will not change. He hopes that German auto companies can seize opportunities and strengthen their confidence in investing in China.

Wang Wentao also noted that the current international situation is complex and severe, and a certain country’s unilateralism and protectionism practices have severely disrupted the international economic and trade order and the stability of global industrial and supply chains with the automotive industry being hit hardest. China and the EU are two pillars defending multilateralism and free trade. He hopes that the VDA will 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 together with China to resolve the EU’s anti-subsidy case against Chinese electric vehicles as soon as possible on the basis of respecting international economic and trade rules.

Müller stated that the VDA and several member enterprises attended Auto Shanghai and were deeply impressed by the electrification and digital development of China’s automotive industry, further reinforcing their confidence in China as their most important market. The automotive industry should adhere to globalization and respond to challenges through openness and cooperation. Imposing tariffs arbitrarily is not conducive to global economic stability. The VDA resolutely opposes trade protectionism and looks forward to positive progress in the EU-China consultations on the electric vehicle case and addressing trade frictions properly. The VDA  encourages German car companies to expand investment in China and welcomes Chinese car companies to invest in Germany so as to jointly push the upgrading and technological innovation of the automotive industry.