China’s premier slams trade tensions as electric vehicle exports hit by tariffs

Open markets and green technologies are vital for stabilising global growth, China’s premier said on Tuesday, while criticising trade tensions as he opened a conference in north-eastern China.

Li Qiang told political and business leaders attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the “Summer Davos”, that China is on track to achieve Beijing’s growth target this year of 5%.

Countries should “work closely together, reject bloc confrontation, oppose decoupling and disconnection, maintain the stability and smoothness of industrial and supply chains, and promote trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation”, Mr Li said in a speech to the conference.

China is facing resistance over its electric vehicle exports, which some governments fear will flood markets and hurt domestic producers. The European Union and Canada among others are mulling surtaxes on Chinese EVs.

China and the EU said over the weekend that they are open to talks over the tentative tariffs after Beijing last week announced an anti-dumping probe into European pork, largely seen as retaliation for the EV duties.

Polish President Andrzej Duda and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joined the business leaders and economic and technology ministers attending the forum, held in the port city of Dalian.

Shutdowns and other disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic worsened a longer-term weakening of growth as authorities cracked down on excess borrowing by property developers, tipping the industry into a downturn.

Mr Li compared China’s economy post-Covid to a person recovering from a serious illness who needs to readjust gradually.

Beijing is aiding the recovery with tools such as industrial upgrades and support for the “silver economy” – businesses aimed at the country’s ageing population – he said.