Amid China-EU tensions, former Finnish prime minister warns of societal harm from tariffs
Warning about protectionist trade actions comes on sidelines of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s annual conference, in Uzbekistan
Beijing should take action to address the European Union’s concerns over China’s overseas projects, products and technology, as open discussions are vital to managing differences and tensions, former Finnish prime minister Mari Kiviniemi said on Wednesday.
“I’m very worried about these tensions – and geopolitical tensions,” Kiviniemi told the Post on the sidelines of the annual conference of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. “Because, from my background, I know so well how much protectionism and tariffs harm the world economy, and by that, it harms all of society.”
Kiviniemi served as the prime minister of Finland from 2010-11 and was deputy secretary general of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development from 2014-18. She is now chair of the board at the University of Vaasa in Finland.
Her comments came as economic relations between Beijing and Brussels have soured this year.
Beijing has expressed concerns over the de-risking strategy of the EU, which is China’s second-largest export destination, and has been wary of more orchestrated actions against it after the United States and Canada announced punitive duties.
