Germany opposes EU probe into Chinese telecom products

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that Germany firmly opposes a trade probe initiated by the European Commission into imports of Chinese mobile telecommunications products.

Merkel made the remarks over breakfast with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is in Berlin for an official visit to Germany, the last leg of his first trip abroad as premier.

During the breakfast, the two leaders held a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the relations between China and the European Union (EU), the problems in China-EU trade, the eurozone sovereign debt crisis and other issues of common concern.

The Chinese premier clarified and expounded anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe that the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has planned on its own initiative to launch into Chinese mobile telecommunications products.

For her part, Merkel said Germany understands and pays high attention to China's concern, and is ready to take firm action against the planned probe.