“I told them that if they do not react, we Europeans will be forced, in the next several months, to take strong measures and to de-cooperate, following the example of the United States – for instance, by imposing tariffs on Chinese products,” Macron said, according to a report in business newspaper Les Echos on Sunday.
Wadephul, who is on a two-day visit to China, on Monday said Berlin had similar concerns to Paris about Chinese overcapacity – especially in the automotive sector – and that Beijing needed to recognise them and “take action”.
But he added that he remained “sceptical that more tariffs will help us”. “Germany fundamentally does not pursue a policy of protectionism,” Wadephul said.
“I would say that such measures should only be considered as a last resort and we should be extremely cautious.
