Only recently did the Chancellor in China call for a level playing field for car manufacturers. For MEP Bütikofer that is not enough. He blamed the government Report from Berlin accused of not taking their oath of office seriously enough.
Green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer has warned of the consequences of Chinese influence on the German automotive industry. He accused the federal government of Report from Berlin In this context, they are not taking their oath to prevent harm to the German people seriously enough.
The traffic light government would protect the interests of the large automobile companies – but would not do enough for medium-sized businesses, according to the chairman of the delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China in the EU Parliament.
Some large corporations that have invested heavily in China would earn a lot from their investments. However, the same does not apply to medium-sized businesses, which primarily earn from their exports. “Exports to China are not developing brilliantly at all,” said Bütikofer. “And if the Chancellery now thinks that it is pursuing an economic policy that Siemens and BASF and Mercedes and Volkswagen and BMW like, then they will find that they are undermining the German middle class.”
Bütikofer: Not alone against China
Just last weekend, Chancellor Olaf Scholz traveled to China and primarily discussed economic issues there. Among other things, he called for a level playing field for car manufacturers.
As Bütikofer further said, China has very quickly developed into the world’s largest automobile exporter. Germany cannot therefore “proudly and sedately” withdraw and insist that it invented the car and that many patents are still German patents. The automotive industry is fighting for its role, for its survival, he said.
Germany must understand that it cannot achieve anything against China alone. The Chancellor has “not yet developed enough European ambitions”. Bütikofer called for a number of measures: For example, punitive tariffs could be levied if trade law was violated. One could also “take action against it” if China were to heavily subsidize international retail chains.
Oliver Neuroth, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, April 21, 2024 5:45 a.m