Trade wars

 

China needs to open up trade to Europe, says Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned China that Europe will start limiting Beijing's access to its market for trade if it does not agree to provide a major opening.

"If there is no market access from the Chinese side for certain areas, this will of course also be reflected in the fact that market access to the European market will be narrower," Merkel was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Speaking at a press conference on Friday (local time) in Brussels after a two-day special EU summit, Merkel had said, "We naturally expect reciprocity for the investment agreement with China," Merkel said. "We find that the barriers to entry with regard to China are still too high. This will now be discussed further."Earlier on Wednesday, Merkel had criticized China over recent developments in Hong Kong and other "dreadful and often horrible" human rights issues.

Merkel had made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing the Bundestag, the German Parliament.