Kuwait Times

Germany calls for better EU market access to China

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Visiting German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel urged China yesterday to improve market access for European Union firms seeking to invest there. He was speaking after talks with his counterpar­t Wang Yi, a week before an EU-China summit in Brussels. The EU has repeatedly pressed for better access to the China market. “China and the European Union should work toward agreements that would make progress on market access,” Gabriel said.

“It is about equality of market access on all sides... Greater market access will bring many benefits to the lives of ordinary people.” Beijing has its own concerns, saying that the EU’s refusal to grant China “market economy” status is an example of covert protection­ism and double standards by the West.

But Gabriel, who was accompanie­d by an economic delegation, expressed optimism that China would welcome the involvemen­t of German automakers in its electric car market.

“The treatment of German automakers is likely to become fairer here than originally planned,” he told reporters earlier yesterday, adding that potential agreements have yet to be finalized. Specifical­ly, Gabriel said he wants the Volkswagen Group to be treated as a local supplier in tenders and approvals, in the same way as Chinese companies. —AFP

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