Merkel and Xi Agree to Work on Overcapacity Steel Industry at G20. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Chinese president Xi Jinping want the G20 to come up with a solution for global overcapacity in the steel market.

The Merkel spokesman said in a statement about a telephone conversation that the two leaders had.

Also, it was agreed to strengthen the strategic relationship between the two countries.

Both China and Germany face new import duties on steel and aluminum in the United States. US President Donald Trump announced it earlier this month.

It concerns 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum. The US is open to negotiations with countries that want to make new, exclusive agreements with the state. The import tariffs do not apply to neighboring countries Canada and Mexico. Among other things, the European Union has already announced countermeasures.