BASF CEO Markus Kamieth has urged the European Union to take a firmer stance against what he describes as China’s unfair trade practices. Speaking to Focus, Kamieth stated that Chinese companies “do not play fair” in many areas, and according to him, the EU cannot tolerate trade that clearly violates global rules. He highlighted a massive increase in cases examined for anti-dumping measures within the last 12 to 24 months, noting a doubling of such cases since 2023. Kamieth explained that in China, enormous overcapacity exists for numerous products, forcing manufacturers to sell these goods in Europe at prices that sometimes fall below the actual cost of production.
While criticizing Beijing’s methods, Kamieth also offered a realistic, if stark, assessment of the power dynamics between the two economic giants. He asserted that Europe “needs the Chinese market, but they don’t need us” adding that China is certainly not in need of any “lessons” from Europe.
Beyond trade, the CEO issued a warning regarding what he termed the “moral arrogance” of German politics. He advised that the world does not wait for Germany to dictate how it should think or live. Kamieth suggested it is crucial to accept that Western values, no matter how highly cherished, are not universally measured as the supreme standard. Furthermore, he warned against the misconception that Germany’s own innovations guarantee unique superiority in the global arena.
