Merkel wants to reach agreement with China over import tariffsMay 27, 2013 - 12:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she wants to reach an agreement with China over import tariffs and avoid triggering a damaging trade war, BBC News reported. Earlier China's Premier Li Keqiang had warned he was unhappy with European Union probes into Chinese pricing practices in a number of industries. The EU wants to levy tariffs on Chinese solar panels and phone gear amid claims they are unfairly undercutting rivals. Chancellor Merkel now wants "intense" talks between the EU and China. She was quoted as saying that Germany would use its position of power within the EU to ensure that the talks were productive. Merkel he said that Germany would work for the issues to be resolved as quickly as possible because she did not believe that tariffs would help either side. "We should very intensely use the next six months, and Germany will do everything to ensure that the talks will really advance," she explained. Li and Merkel were meeting as part of the Chinese leader's first overseas tour. Before Germany, he had already touched down in India, Pakistan and Switzerland. China's premier has been warning that any attempt to impose tariffs would be seen as protectionist and ultimately hurt consumers. "This decision will not only harm jobs in China, as well as development in the affected industries, but it will also affect development and endanger industry in Europe," he told a press conference in Berlin. The probe into whether China has been selling solar products below cost is the biggest ever undertaken by the EU. EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht has proposed taxes averaging 47% on solar imports and a decision is expected next month. The EU is also investigating subsidies provided to China's telecoms sector. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |