{
  "id": 8051294,
  "title": "Germany demands EU action against China to defend carmakers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/germany-demands-eu-action-against-china-to-defend-carmakers",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-17T14:57:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/09/17/germany-demands-eu-action-against-china-to-defend-carmakers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Frankfurt: Germany's finance minister called on the European Union to intensify its fight against what he described as unfair trade practices by China to shield the nation's struggling car manufacturers. During a visit to Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg, the city that also hosts the company's largest factory, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil pledged that Germany would push for a stronger stance at the European level. He emphasized that Germany could no longer adopt a naive approach towards China and called for clear signals from Brussels, which manages the EU's trade policies.\n\nVolkswagen's job cuts and downsizing of Mercedes-Benz and BMW underscore the crisis facing the German auto industry, exacerbated by intense Chinese competition, weak domestic demand, and US tariffs. Berlin is seeking concrete measures from Brussels, such as tackling plug-in hybrids and local content requirements. Finance Minister Klingbeil advocated for Germany to assert greater self-confidence and adopt a more robust stance against countries endangering its industry.\n\nDanica Cavallo, a VW staff representative and supervisory board member, echoed the demand for China-made hybrids to face higher tariffs. She highlighted the \"enormously tough and unfair competition\" with China. Olaf Lies, leader of Lower Saxony, a key shareholder in Volkswagen, acknowledged the necessity of maintaining a partnership with China but stressed the need to adhere to the same rules as those applied in China. Germany's IG Metall union organized nationwide protests for Monday to call for enhanced measures to safeguard the auto sector, anticipating around 100,000 workers to participate across major manufacturers and suppliers.",
  "summary": "Growing Chinese competition, compounded by weak domestic demand and US tariffs, has thrown the German auto industry into crisis.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Germany demands EU action against China to defend carmakers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/germany-demands-eu-action-against-china-to-defend-carmakers-8054436",
        "published": "2026-09-17T14:57:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}