China pushes EU to remove preliminary tariffs on electric vehicles ahead of trade talks

Beijing wants the European Union to remove its preliminary tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles by July 4, China’s Global Times newspaper reported, after the two sides agreed to hold new trade talks. Provisional EU tariffs of up to 38.1% on imported electric vehicles made in China are set to take effect by July 4, as the bloc investigates what the EU says are excessive subsidies and unfair to Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers.

China has repeatedly called on the EU to cancel its tariffs, expressing its willingness to negotiate. Beijing does not want to get involved in a new tariff war, still stung by US tariffs on its products imposed by the Trump administration, but says it would take all measures to protect Chinese companies if such a situation arises. produced. The two sides agreed to begin tariff negotiations after a call between European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Saturday during a visit to China by Germany’s economy minister, who said the doors discussions were “open”.

The best outcome of the negotiations is for the EU to abandon its tariff decision before July 4, the Global Times reported on Sunday, citing observers. The EU’s increasingly protectionist measures will trigger countermeasures from China, and an escalation of trade frictions would only lead to “lose-losing” results for both sides, the newspaper said.

The tariffs are expected to be finalized on November 2, when the EU anti-subsidy investigation concludes. China has rejected accusations of unfair subsidies, saying the development of China’s electric vehicle industry was the result of advantages in technological, market and industry supply chains.