BEIJING, June 22 (Reuters) - Proposed European Union tariffs on Chinese goods are not a "punishment", Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck told Chinese officials in Beijing on Saturday.
Habeck's visit to China is the first by a senior European official since Brussels proposed hefty duties on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) to combat what the EU considers excessive subsidies.
China warned on Friday ahead of his arrival that escalating frictions with the EU over EVs could trigger a trade war.
Meeting Zheng Shanjie, chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, Habeck said the proposed EU tariffs were intended to level the playing field with China.
"We will do everything to protect Chinese companies," Zheng replied.
(Reporting by Maria Martinez in Beijing; Editing by William Mallard)
