China’s top trade official warned the European Union against protectionism on Friday, saying Beijing was puzzled by EU probes into green tech exports and the bloc’s concerns they threaten the domestic solar panel, wind turbine and electric vehicle industries.
Wang Wentao is traveling through Europe for discussions about the European Commission’s investigation into whether China’s electric vehicle industry has benefited from unfair subsidies.
“We fail to understand how the EU commission carries the banner of sustainable and green development and then takes protectionist actions, thereby in effect generating more and more risks,” Wang said during a trade and business conference in the northern Italian city of Verona.
He cited the EU’s investigations into Chinese electric cars, solar panels and wind turbines as examples.
“We must oppose unilateralism and protectionism and protect the global supply chain,” the minister said.
Earlier this week, Wang was in France where he met French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.
Also this week, Brussels launched a preliminary review of possible market distortions by Chinese wind turbine makers.
