Germany Seeks Wider EU Import Limits on Chinese Goods

Germany plans to press the European Commission to consider import safeguards for more Chinese goods, beyond hybrid vehicles, Bloomberg HT reported. The sectors under consideration include chemicals, mechanical engineering and potentially pharmaceuticals.

The measures would allow the EU to restrict goods in a sector if imports surge. Germany wants the Commission, which handles trade for the bloc, to put forward proposals by the end of the year, the report said.

EU leaders are due to meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the bloc’s trade deficit with China, which reached a record $34.8 billion in September. The EU has announced a ceiling of 350 thousand Chinese hybrid vehicles that can enter the bloc.

Germany welcomed a recent 16-point EU-China agreement covering trade and investment, export controls and intellectual property, officials said. But Berlin sees the hybrid-vehicle measure as only a first step. EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said Tuesday that trade imbalances extend beyond cars.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron are pushing for leaders to authorize the Commission to prepare tighter trade measures. Officials also expect the two leaders to discuss support for Europe’s automotive industry. A draft compromise would have France meet Germany halfway on phasing out combustion engines, while Germany softens its criticism of “Buy European” requirements, officials said.