BERLIN, Nov 8 (Reuters) – Germany’s coalition government plans to re-examine its trade policies towards China including on energy, raw material imports and Chinese investment in critical German infrastructure and will set up a committee of experts to report to parliament.
The plan comes after a recent rise in trade tensions between the world’s second and third biggest economies. The committee will examine “security-relevant trade relations between Germany and China” and make recommendations to the government, according to a motion submitted by Chancellor Friedrich Merz‘s conservatives and their Social Democratic coalition partners, seen by Reuters on Saturday.
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The motion is likely to be passed next Friday and the committee – which will be staffed by a dozen academics, industry associations, labour representatives and think tank members – will be established shortly afterwards.
The new committee will report to parliament twice a year.
“The aim of the committee is to examine from a legal, economic and political perspective the need for changes to foreign trade rules,” the motion read. The committee will also look at other countries’ trade ties with China.
Social Democrat Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil talked of the need for “a little more European patriotism”.
Writing by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Susan Fenton
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