Germany: Merkel vows to avoid trade war with China

BERLIN — Germany's chancellor says she will use her country's economic clout to hinder the European Union from imposing punitive tariffs on some Chinese products to avoid a trade war.

Angela Merkel told visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on yesterday that she will lobby for "intense talks" between the EU and China to seek a negotiated solution as swiftly as possible.

The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc's executive arm, is proposing anti-dumping duties for Chinese solar panel imports. If agreed, China could retaliate by imposing tariffs on other goods.

Li sharply criticized the EU's approach, saying through an interpreter "it sends a wrong signal because we want to fight protectionism together."

He says China hopes talks between Beijing and Brussels can still avoid a trade standoff and yield "an amicable solution."