China’s Xi Jinping Arrives in France Amid EU Trade Tariff Row

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China’s Xi Jinping Arrives in France Amid EU Trade Tariff Row
France's Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (R) greets China's President Xi Jinping upon his arrival for an official two-day state visit, at Orly airport, south of Paris on May 5, 2024. STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

President Xi Jinping has praised the strong relationship between China and France as an exemplary model for the global community.

Xi Jinping Visits Paris Amid EU Trade Disputes

Xi arrived in Paris for a special visit, which comes at a time when trade disputes with the EU are on the rise. French President Emmanuel Macron plans to discuss the issue of trade imbalances and seek support from Xi regarding the war in Ukraine.

Xi is scheduled to have a meeting with Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday.

According to The Guardian, one of Macron's main concerns will be to caution Xi about the potential risks of supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

Western officials are worried that Moscow is already using Chinese machine tools in the production of weapons. The West is concerned about China supplying weapons to Russia and potentially disrupting the balance in the conflict.

EU Investigates China's EV Support Amid Industry Worries

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that the new "strategic sector contract" is being introduced as France and other countries express concerns about the potential threat of China's EV market oversaturating their own domestic industries.

The European Commission took action by initiating an investigation into China's support for its EV sector, addressing the concerns raised.

During Xi's two-day visit to France, the focus will be on the tensions between the EU and China regarding electric vehicles.

The tension has escalated into a broader dispute, with Beijing initiating an investigation into liquor dumping that could potentially have negative consequences for French cognac producers, specifically.

France has implemented measures to limit financial assistance for electric vehicle purchases to only those vehicles with the lowest carbon footprint during production.

This policy effectively excludes a number of Chinese-made models. Additionally, this country has become the pioneer in using new European regulations to provide green tax credits for the emerging battery industry.

Tags
Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron, France, China

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