German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiles during a signing ceremony in Hefei on October 30, 2015. REUTERS/Johannes Eisele/Pool

Andelsblatt this morning reports that Chancellor Angela Merkel personally intervened with Chinese authorities to negotiate a postponement of a proposed Chinese rule that would require German automakers to reserve 8% of next year’s Chinese sales for electric and hybrid vehicles. The German auto industry couldn’t meet the quota, and China agreed to postpone the rule for a year. According to the German daily, China is more willing to compromise with other trading partners now that it faces prospective trade barriers from the US.