As EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič prepares for his trip to China, the German Chamber of Commerce in China has cautioned against broad tariffs or sweeping mandates, advocating instead for targeted, sector-specific measures, faz.net reported.
Dialogue and Targeted Measures Urged Before Beijing Delegation Arrives
The push for a diplomatic and calibrated approach comes as European officials press for reductions in what they characterize as structural trade imbalances. The European Union currently imports significantly more goods from the People’s Republic of China than it exports in return. According to a statement released by the chamber, policymakers must carefully weigh the balance between potential benefits and risks rather than resorting to blunt economic instruments.
“We therefore advocate for EU initiatives that weigh benefits and risks and rely on targeted, sector-specific instruments instead of issuing blanket tariffs or general specifications,” Oehms stated in the release.
The chamber highlighted the deep integration of German corporate operations within the Chinese market. Companies based in Germany frequently develop localized technical expertise and operational insights inside China that eventually flow back to corporate headquarters, strengthening overall global competitiveness. The business association argues that economic policy should actively support this exchange where mutual benefits exist, preserving channels for cross-border collaboration.
Eighty Percent of Surveyed Firms Expect Business Disruptions From Escalation
To show the commercial stakes of the diplomatic mission, the chamber published preliminary findings from its annual business climate survey before the commissioner departed. Survey respondents were asked to project the operational impact on their China-based ventures if current trade talks between Brussels and Beijing collapse without tangible agreements, leading to an environment akin to a full-scale trade conflict.
The survey data reveals widespread concern across German industry sectors operating in East Asia. A total of 33 percent of respondents anticipate severe fallout for their regional operations, while 47 percent expect moderate consequences. Only 14 percent of participating companies anticipate no direct impact on their commercial activities.
Scheduled Negotiations in the Chinese Capital
Commissioner Šefčovič is scheduled to meet with China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, during a two-day diplomatic visit to Beijing on Thursday and Friday. The talks center on addressing persistent market distortions and trade deficits. While European policymakers argue that Chinese industrial overcapacity and export surpluses create unfair market dynamics, Beijing has consistently rejected these criticisms, characterizing EU trade defenses as protective measures designed to shield domestic industries rather than fair market competition.
