World · Middle East · 4 hrs ago
German business leader urges trust and cooperation on climate and trade
At COP31 in Antalya, German business leader Michael Schumann called trust essential to international climate policy.
Schumann, who chairs Germany’s Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, said China’s emissions targets and early progress on wind and solar power help make its plans more predictable.
He identified electricity grids, energy storage, shared standards and energy efficiency as areas where China and Europe could work together.
On electric cars, he said his association still opposes punitive tariffs on Chinese vehicles and argued that more supply, not less, is needed to meet Germany’s goal of 15 million electric cars by 2030.
He welcomed progress from China-Europe talks in October and said investment on both sides could create local jobs and value.
On US limits on AI chip exports to China, Schumann said broad decoupling could slow technology and harm climate work, which relies on computing power for models and carbon accounting.
Michael Schumann, head of Germany’s BWA business association, urged trust and cooperation on climate policy and trade.
Speaking at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, he said cooperation was needed to address climate and trade challenges.
He opposed punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and said reducing supply would not close the gap to Germany’s electric-car target.
He called for practical cooperation between China and Europe on clean energy, shared standards and trade.
He also warned that broad restrictions on AI chip exports to China could harm innovation and climate efforts.
- Who
- Michael Schumann, chairman of the board of Germany’s BWA business association.
- What
- He urged trust and cooperation on climate and trade, opposed punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, and warned against broad technology restrictions.
- When
- He spoke on November 10; the article says COP31 was taking place at the time.
- Where
- Antalya, Turkey.
- Why
- He said cooperation can support climate action, trade and innovation, while broad restrictions and reduced supply can cause harm.
European carmakers concerned about alleged unfair competition
Michael Schumann and BWA
Electric-vehicle trade
European carmakers concerned about alleged unfair competition
Some European carmakers have accused Chinese firms of unfair competition.
Michael Schumann and BWA
Schumann said fair rules and equal market access are needed, but BWA opposes punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
China proposed an absolute emissions-reduction target covering the whole economy and all greenhouse gases.
China and Europe announced that green development would be a foundation of their cooperation.
Germany had about 2 million battery-electric cars on the road, according to Schumann.
Beijing and Brussels made progress through dialogue, which Schumann welcomed.
Schumann discussed climate and trade issues with China News Service during COP31 in Antalya.
- Speaker
- Michael Schumann, chairman of the board of Germany’s BWA
- Conference
- COP31, Antalya, Turkey
- Electric cars in Germany
- About 2 million battery-electric cars on the road in early 2026
- Germany’s 2030 electric-car target
- 15 million
- Schumann’s visits to China
- Four times during 2026 so far
1 source
What people are saying
Trust is a scarce resource in international climate policy.
We need not a battlefield, but a workbench.
You cannot close this gap by reducing supply; you need more supply.
A blanket decoupling will make technology more expensive, slow its spread and ultimately harm everyone.