German Engineering Body Demands Tougher EU Stance on Chinese Trade

VDMA President Bertram Kawlath arrives in Brussels this week to champion a proposal that would fundamentally alter how the European Union assesses trade disputes. Rather than relying on rigid import quotas, which could trigger unpredictable international fallout, the association argues for intensified market surveillance and a procedural reversal: placing the burden of proof directly on Chinese companies during investigations.

The initiative addresses the growing vulnerability of European manufacturers who rely on critical supplies from the Asian market while struggling to compete on a level playing field. VDMA suggests that revenues generated from these new countervailing duties should be ring-fenced to fuel internal innovation and provide a financial buffer for industries caught in the crossfire of inevitable retaliatory measures.