The German government may want to restrict the export of chemicals needed to make potato chips. “While during Chancellor Scholz’s mission to China those chemical companies were there,” says German correspondent Derk Marseille. “This shows the doubt that is still there.”
For years, there seemed to be no brakes on the export of German chemicals to China. “Berlin has benefited enormously from this,” said Marseille. “It was all impossible. But in the last four years or so, you can see that Germany is starting to think about export restrictive measures.’
The idea is that it is necessary to guarantee economic and national security. This is why the German government is now looking into the chemicals needed to make chips, which are also used in weapons.
The timing of the discussion is not accidental, thinks Marseille. “Because of the invasion of Ukraine, America spends more money on security in Europe and has to collapse again. Now we’re seeing it with fries. And Germany is moving slowly like a tanker in that direction.’
It is clear that German policy is not aligned. The Greens want a more aggressive policy towards China. Scholz, as a former mayor of the port city of Hamburg, is more moderate.”
BASF and Merck
Typical was the chancellor’s mission to China at the end of last year. ‘Chemical companies such as BASF and Merck have also been involved. The new deals were even closed. While it is precisely those companies that now risk suffering the consequences of export restrictions’.
According to Marseille, an important date to note is June 20th. “Then Chinese Premier Li Qiang will come to Berlin. It is already awaited with fear and interest. Because this discussion is so important for Germany that everyone has an opinion about it.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
