Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday, March 17, and discussed the problem of global overcapacities in the steel market, emphasizing the importance of close multilateral cooperation on trade, according to Reuters.
Jinping and Merkel agreed to deepen the strategic partnership between their two countries, which both face the US steel and aluminum tariffs, and to continue efforts to work toward solutions for the global overcapacity in the framework of the G20 Global Forum.
Meanwhile, Reuters also stated that German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier will visit Washington this week to press for an exemption from the US steel and aluminum tariffs.