The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) on Wednesday criticized the European Commission's threat to impose high import tariffs on electric vehicles from China.
The influential industry lobby group's president, Hildegard Müller, called such tariffs an obstacle to global cooperation and said the move would increase the risk of global trade conflicts.
China is a major market, as well as a key production location, for a number of large German automakers.
"It is also a fact that countervailing duties on electric cars imported from China are not suitable for strengthening the competitiveness of the European automotive industry," she said on Wednesday.
The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) also warned that the move could lead to greater trade conflicts.
Whether the punitive tariffs - which could be as high as 38.1% - will actually be imposed depends on whether another solution can be found with China.
Müller, however, said that China has a responsibility to negotiate and address trade issues to resolve the issue.
"It is also up to China to approach Europe with constructive proposals to consistently and quickly put a stop to competition-distorting behaviour in order to avoid an escalation of trade conflicts," she said.