On October 27, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul issued a message about trade relations with China. In the context of escalating tensions between the European Union (EU) and China, he called on both sides to ensure "fairness", especially in the field of chips and rare earths.
Speaking in Brussels, Mr. Wadephul confirmed that he would soon hold a phone call with the Chinese side to reschedule the visit to Beijing, which was canceled last week. The trip was previously postponed abruptly because the Chinese side only confirmed a meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and there was no other working schedule for the German Foreign Minister.
Mr. Wadephul believes that postponing was the right decision in that situation. However, he reiterated Germany's commitment to long-term relations with China and stressed that Berlin was "always ready for dialogue".
China's trade restrictions, especially on rare earths and semiconductors, are the core issues that Mr. Wadephul plans to discuss.
Earlier this month, China announced new control measures for rare earth exports, an indispensable component of many high-tech industries. The move has prompted a strong reaction from the EU, as the bloc believes the restrictions have forced some European companies to temporarily suspend production and cause economic losses.
In this situation, Secretary of State Wadephul emphasized that the EU needs to diversify the supply of minerals and components to minimize risks. However, he also affirmed that Berlin does not want to completely cut off economic relations with Beijing.
Instead, the German Foreign Minister declared the government committed to ensuring fair trade with China in all fields, including rare earths and chips.
He expressed hope that he would find a common voice with his partners in Beijing to maintain this fair exchange. This stance shows the efforts of Europe's largest economy in finding a balanced path in its relations with China.
