<p>The trade war between China and the European Union continues to build. In the latest update, China is looking&nbsp;to convince Germany's car manufacturers with potential&nbsp;benefits if they can persuade the EU to drop tariffs on Chinese EVs.</p>

<p>China currently imposes a 15 per cent fee on passenger vehicles from Germany. The tariff-hit country is considering floating the fees in exchange for scrapping planned EV levies on its imports.</p>

<p>China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao hinted at the possibilities during a meeting with Germany's Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on Saturday. Germany has been vocal about the potential threat to business if the EU goes ahead with these tariffs. Germany also faces a threat from China's proposed tariffs on EU pork imports.</p>

<p>German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had earlier underscored the government's wish for a favourable solution. China and the EU are currently under discussion regarding tariffs. China must address these disputes, as Canada joins the league of countries moving against its countries trade tactics.</p>

<p>This also reflects China's tactics to persuade the EU against these tariffs. While proposed duties on EU pork imports are underway, China is also trying the backdoor to squash trade tensions with the EU. China is already facing growing scrutiny from the US regarding 'overcapacity' concerns.</p>


The trade war between China and the European Union continues to build. In the latest update, China is looking to convince Germany's car manufacturers with potential benefits if they can persuade the EU to drop tariffs on Chinese EVs.

The trade war between China and the European Union continues to build. In the latest update, China is looking to convince Germany's car manufacturers with potential benefits if they can persuade the EU to drop tariffs on Chinese EVs. China currently imposes a 15 per cent fee on passenger vehicles from Germany. The tariff-hit country is considering floating the fees in exchange for scrapping planned EV levies on its imports. China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao hinted at the possibilities during a meeting with Germany's Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on Saturday. Germany has been vocal about the potential threat to business if the EU goes ahead with these tariffs. Germany also faces a threat from China's proposed tariffs on EU pork imports. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had earlier underscored the government's wish for a favourable solution. China and the EU are currently under discussion regarding tariffs. China must address these disputes, as Canada joins the league of countries moving against its countries trade tactics. This also reflects China's tactics to persuade the EU against these tariffs. While proposed duties on EU pork imports are underway, China is also trying the backdoor to squash trade tensions with the EU. China is already facing growing scrutiny from the US regarding 'overcapacity' concerns.

China woos German carmakers to avoid EV tariffs

<p>Germany's Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, made an attempt to reassure Chinese officials in Beijing on Saturday that proposed EU tariffs on Chinese goods would not be punitive. The visit of Habeck to Beijing comes as the first by a top European official since Brussels slapped significant duties on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles, measures against what it argues are excessive subsidies provided by China for its local manufacturers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahead of Habeck's visit, Beijing had cautioned that increasing tension over EV tariffs risked spiralling into an outright trade war. Ignoring these threats, he reaffirmed in the round of climate and transformation talks that tariffs should not be considered a penalty. He emphasized how the EU, unlike countries such as the U.S., Brazil, and even Turkiye, managed things that went beyond strict trade concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Habeck explained that the Commission had spent nine months investigating whether Chinese companies were given unfair advantages through subsidies or otherwise, adding that any countervailing duties arising from this review were not punitive but compensatory in nature, trying to even out the playing fields between the European and Chinese Companies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Common, equal standards for market access should be achieved," said Habeck, referring to fair competition. During his meeting with Zheng Shanjie, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, Habeck restated that the EU's proposed tariffs aim to ensure genuinely open market conditions, not to punish Chinese enterprises.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In return, Zheng said, "We will do everything to protect Chinese companies," outlining China's determination to help its domestic industries. The provisional duties of the EU will come into effect by July 4 and the investigation will run until November 2. Should the review find grounds for tariffs, definitive duties, usually five years in duration, could stand.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For this reason, Habeck has called for discussion with Chinese officials based on the findings presented in the EU report, saying, "It's important now to take the opportunity that the report provides seriously and to talk or negotiate." The emphasis was, therefore, on dialogue and negotiation concerning the concerns raised by the investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The visit of Habeck to China accentuates the balancing act the EU seeks in its trade relations with China. While, in part, the proposed tariffs do try to correct perceived subsidy imbalances, at the same time, they also open a channel for further dialogue and negotiation. Habeck sought to diffuse potential explosive trade tension on both sides by saying that the tariffs were not punitive but would give European and Chinese companies a fair and better competitive environment. The next few months are going to be critical as far as the future prospects of EU-China trade relations are concerned, as both look for a way out from these intricate issues.</p>


Germany's Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, made an attempt to reassure Chinese officials in Beijing on Saturday that proposed EU tariffs on Chinese goods would not be punitive.

Germany's Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, made an attempt to reassure Chinese officials in Beijing on Saturday that proposed EU tariffs on Chinese goods would not be punitive. The visit of Habeck to Beijing comes as the first by a top European official since Brussels slapped significant duties on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles, measures against what it argues are excessive subsidies provided by China for its local manufacturers. Ahead of Habeck's visit, Beijing had cautioned that increasing tension over EV tariffs risked spiralling into an outright trade war. Ignoring these threats, he reaffirmed in the round of climate and transformation talks that tariffs should not be considered a penalty. He emphasized how the EU, unlike countries such as the U.S., Brazil, and even Turkiye, managed things that went beyond strict trade concerns. Habeck explained that the Commission had spent nine months investigating whether Chinese companies were given unfair advantages through subsidies or otherwise, adding that any countervailing duties arising from this review were not punitive but compensatory in nature, trying to even out the playing fields between the European and Chinese Companies. "Common, equal standards for market access should be achieved," said Habeck, referring to fair competition. During his meeting with Zheng Shanjie, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, Habeck restated that the EU's proposed tariffs aim to ensure genuinely open market conditions, not to punish Chinese enterprises. In return, Zheng said, "We will do everything to protect Chinese companies," outlining China's determination to help its domestic industries. The provisional duties of the EU will come into effect by July 4 and the investigation will run until November 2. Should the review find grounds for tariffs, definitive duties, usually five years in duration, could stand. For this reason, Habeck has called for discussion with Chinese officials based on the findings presented in the EU report, saying, "It's important now to take the opportunity that the report provides seriously and to talk or negotiate." The emphasis was, therefore, on dialogue and negotiation concerning the concerns raised by the investigation. The visit of Habeck to China accentuates the balancing act the EU seeks in its trade relations with China. While, in part, the proposed tariffs do try to correct perceived subsidy imbalances, at the same time, they also open a channel for further dialogue and negotiation. Habeck sought to diffuse potential explosive trade tension on both sides by saying that the tariffs were not punitive but would give European and Chinese companies a fair and better competitive environment. The next few months are going to be critical as far as the future prospects of EU-China trade relations are concerned, as both look for a way out from these intricate issues.

EU-China trade tensions: Habeck's balancing act amid EV tariff dispute

<p>Even as the West shoves its green climate agenda down the throat of the developing world, it itself keeps on exhibiting sheer hypocrisy as it seeks to widen its dependence on fossil fuels. In the latest instance, Germany is witnessing the dismantling of a large wind farm; only to expand a nearby open-pit lignite coal mine.</p>

<p>German energy giant RWE is undertaking the dismantling work in the western region of North Rhine Westphalia, where one wind turbine has already been dismantled. The company plans to weed out seven more to pave the way for an additional 15m to 20m tonnes of so-called 'brown' coal to be excavated.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;German green policy looking to miss net zero target by 2045</strong></p>

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<p>Brown coal, by the way, is considered one of the most polluting energy sources in the world.</p>

<h2><strong>Expansion of coal field blamed on Ukraine crisis</strong></h2>

<p>RWE and the German government justify the move by saying that it was necessary to steer clear of a massive energy crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It said how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine jeopardised Germany’s energy security and the expansion of the so-called Garzweiler coal fields was required to meet the country’s energy demands.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germanys-skilled-labour-shortage-grows-amid-anti-immigrant-push-626111"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Germany`s skilled labour shortage grows amid anti-immigrant push</strong></a></p>

<p>Germany’s minister for economy and climate action Robert Habeck defended the expansion as the "right decision." According to RWE, the expansion is necessary "due to the energy crisis."</p>

<h2><strong>Expansion of coal field part of a wider deal</strong></h2>

<p>The expansion of the coalfield is being done under a deal brokered last year between RWE and the German government. In return, RWE had promised to completely phase out coal in 2030, eight years before the previous deadline. "It's a good day for climate protection," Habeck said at the time.</p>

<h2><strong>Move invites sharp criticism</strong></h2>

<p>The move to demolish wind farms to make way for more coal excavation has triggered massive criticism by activists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The current climate emergency requires urgent and concerted efforts to accelerate the deployment of every single wind turbine, solar panel and heat pump that we can muster," said Fabian Hübner, a senior campaigner at Beyond Fossil Fuels, a German-based coalition of climate activists.</p>

<p>"Anything that diverts from this critical endeavour, especially the dismantling of renewable energy sources to extract more fossil fuels, must be unequivocally prohibited," he added.</p>

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Even as the West shoves its green climate agenda down the throat of the developing world, it itself keeps on exhibiting sheer hypocrisy as it seeks to widen its dependence on fossil fuels.

Even as the West shoves its green climate agenda down the throat of the developing world, it itself keeps on exhibiting sheer hypocrisy as it seeks to widen its dependence on fossil fuels. In the latest instance, Germany is witnessing the dismantling of a large wind farm; only to expand a nearby open-pit lignite coal mine. German energy giant RWE is undertaking the dismantling work in the western region of North Rhine Westphalia, where one wind turbine has already been dismantled. The company plans to weed out seven more to pave the way for an additional 15m to 20m tonnes of so-called 'brown' coal to be excavated. Watch: German green policy looking to miss net zero target by 2045 × Brown coal, by the way, is considered one of the most polluting energy sources in the world. Expansion of coal field blamed on Ukraine crisis RWE and the German government justify the move by saying that it was necessary to steer clear of a massive energy crisis. It said how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine jeopardised Germany’s energy security and the expansion of the so-called Garzweiler coal fields was required to meet the country’s energy demands. Also read: Germany`s skilled labour shortage grows amid anti-immigrant push Germany’s minister for economy and climate action Robert Habeck defended the expansion as the "right decision." According to RWE, the expansion is necessary "due to the energy crisis." Expansion of coal field part of a wider deal The expansion of the coalfield is being done under a deal brokered last year between RWE and the German government. In return, RWE had promised to completely phase out coal in 2030, eight years before the previous deadline. "It's a good day for climate protection," Habeck said at the time. Move invites sharp criticism The move to demolish wind farms to make way for more coal excavation has triggered massive criticism by activists. "The current climate emergency requires urgent and concerted efforts to accelerate the deployment of every single wind turbine, solar panel and heat pump that we can muster," said Fabian Hübner, a senior campaigner at Beyond Fossil Fuels, a German-based coalition of climate activists. "Anything that diverts from this critical endeavour, especially the dismantling of renewable energy sources to extract more fossil fuels, must be unequivocally prohibited," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

So much for green agenda: Germany demolishes wind farm to expand coal field

<p>Amid concerns about possible shortages caused by a cut in supplies from Russia, the German minister of economics and climate protection said Sunday that the country will limit the use of natural gas for electricity production.</p>

<p>By&nbsp;burning&nbsp;coal, Germany will try to compensate for the move according to Robert Habeck, who is also the vice-chancellor of the country.</p>

<p>Habeck, who is a member of the environmentalist Green party, told German media that “That’s bitter, but it’s simply necessary for this situation to lower gas usage.”</p>

<p>Germany, which has long relied heavily on energy imports from Moscow, has slammed Russian gas company Gazprom's decision to sharply reduce supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.</p>

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<p>Habeck said appeared to be politically motivated even though Gazprom said it was for technical reasons.</p>

<p>“It’s obvious that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s strategy is to unsettle us by driving up the price and dividing us,” Habeck said. “We won’t let that happen.”</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-forced-to-delay-keynote-speech-after-hackers-crash-internet-489384" hreflang="en">Vladimir Putin forced to delay keynote speech after hackers crash internet</a></strong></p>

<p>Describing the situation as “serious”, Habeck added that although storage facilities are currently at 56.7 per cent capacity Germany may nevertheless need to take further necessary measures to make up the shortfall from Russia with purchases from elsewhere.</p>

<p>Berlin, which is scaling back its imports because of the war in Ukraine, has nevertheless insisted that Russian gas will be needed for a while until alternative sources of energy are available.</p>

<p>In order to ensure enough gas is available as a heating fuel through the winter, the German government has taken measures to fill gas storage facilities to 90 per cent capacity by November.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Amid concerns about possible shortages caused by a cut in supplies from Russia, the German minister of economics and climate protection said Sunday that the country will limit the use of natural gas for electricity production.

Amid concerns about possible shortages caused by a cut in supplies from Russia, the German minister of economics and climate protection said Sunday that the country will limit the use of natural gas for electricity production. By burning coal, Germany will try to compensate for the move according to Robert Habeck, who is also the vice-chancellor of the country. Habeck, who is a member of the environmentalist Green party, told German media that “That’s bitter, but it’s simply necessary for this situation to lower gas usage.” Germany, which has long relied heavily on energy imports from Moscow, has slammed Russian gas company Gazprom's decision to sharply reduce supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. × Habeck said appeared to be politically motivated even though Gazprom said it was for technical reasons. “It’s obvious that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s strategy is to unsettle us by driving up the price and dividing us,” Habeck said. “We won’t let that happen.” Also read | Vladimir Putin forced to delay keynote speech after hackers crash internet Describing the situation as “serious”, Habeck added that although storage facilities are currently at 56.7 per cent capacity Germany may nevertheless need to take further necessary measures to make up the shortfall from Russia with purchases from elsewhere. Berlin, which is scaling back its imports because of the war in Ukraine, has nevertheless insisted that Russian gas will be needed for a while until alternative sources of energy are available. In order to ensure enough gas is available as a heating fuel through the winter, the German government has taken measures to fill gas storage facilities to 90 per cent capacity by November. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Germany to limit use of gas for electricity production, says economy minister

<p>Germany's energy firm Uniper on Friday (April 29) said it is ready to meet Russia's payment demand in roubles on gas.</p>

<p>Although this payment will not be direct as it will convert euros into roubles, critics believe that it will undermine the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia for invading Ukraine.</p>

<p>A spokesman for Uniper told BBC, "We consider a payment conversion compliant with sanctions law and the Russian decree to be possible."</p>

<p>"For our company and for Germany as a whole, it is not possible to do without Russian gas in the short term; this would have dramatic consequences for our economy."</p>

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<p>It comes after Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the EU's largest economy could cope with an embargo on Russian oil imports.</p>

<p>Austrian multinational integrated oil, gas, and petrochemical company OMV is also going to open rouble accounts in Swiss banks to make payments to Russia as per a report in the Financial Times.</p>

<p>Recently, Russian gas giant Gazprom halted its oil supply to Poland and Bulgaria for not making payments in the rouble.</p>

<p>European Union's President Ursula Von Der Leyen has vowed a ''coordinated response'' against Russia's ''unjustified'' move.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-is-redrawing-blocs-energy-map-to-overcome-its-reliance-on-russia-474904" hreflang="en">EU is redrawing bloc's energy map to overcome its reliance on Russia</a></strong></p>

<p>''What we cannot accept is that companies are obliged to open a second account and that between the first and second account, the amount in euros is in the full hands of the Russian authorities and the Russian Central Bank, and that the payment is only complete when it is converted into roubles,'' an EU official told British newspaper Dailymail.</p>

<p><strong>Watch WION's live TV:</strong></p>

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<p>EU is redrawing the bloc's energy map to overcome its reliance on Russia. It plans on using the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria pipeline to supply gas to all members.</p>

<p>After Germany said it is no longer opposed to an embargo on Russian oil, oil prices rallied as it could further tighten supplies in the already stressed global crude market.</p>

<p>"As a result of this, oil from the free world is going to be more expensive, and Iron Curtain oil will plunge further in value and be discounted more heavily," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Germany's energy firm Uniper on Friday (April 29) said it is ready to meet Russia's payment demand in roubles on gas. Although this payment will not be direct as it will convert euros into roubles, critics believe that it will undermine the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia for invading Ukraine.

Germany's energy firm Uniper on Friday (April 29) said it is ready to meet Russia's payment demand in roubles on gas. Although this payment will not be direct as it will convert euros into roubles, critics believe that it will undermine the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia for invading Ukraine. A spokesman for Uniper told BBC, "We consider a payment conversion compliant with sanctions law and the Russian decree to be possible." "For our company and for Germany as a whole, it is not possible to do without Russian gas in the short term; this would have dramatic consequences for our economy." It comes after Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the EU's largest economy could cope with an embargo on Russian oil imports. Austrian multinational integrated oil, gas, and petrochemical company OMV is also going to open rouble accounts in Swiss banks to make payments to Russia as per a report in the Financial Times. Recently, Russian gas giant Gazprom halted its oil supply to Poland and Bulgaria for not making payments in the rouble. European Union's President Ursula Von Der Leyen has vowed a ''coordinated response'' against Russia's ''unjustified'' move. Also read | EU is redrawing bloc's energy map to overcome its reliance on Russia ''What we cannot accept is that companies are obliged to open a second account and that between the first and second account, the amount in euros is in the full hands of the Russian authorities and the Russian Central Bank, and that the payment is only complete when it is converted into roubles,'' an EU official told British newspaper Dailymail. Watch WION's live TV: EU is redrawing the bloc's energy map to overcome its reliance on Russia. It plans on using the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria pipeline to supply gas to all members. After Germany said it is no longer opposed to an embargo on Russian oil, oil prices rallied as it could further tighten supplies in the already stressed global crude market. "As a result of this, oil from the free world is going to be more expensive, and Iron Curtain oil will plunge further in value and be discounted more heavily," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. (With inputs from agencies)

Ready to meet Russia's payment demand on gas, says Germany's energy firm Uniper

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China woos German carmakers to avoid EV tariffs

EU-China trade tensions: Habeck's balancing act amid EV tariff dispute

So much for green agenda: Germany demolishes wind farm to expand coal field

Germany to limit use of gas for electricity production, says economy minister

Ready to meet Russia's payment demand on gas, says Germany's energy firm Uniper