EU, China agree to discuss duties on electric cars

China and the EU have agreed to start negotiations on the planned introduction of EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

This is reported by Xinhua, Ukrinform saw.

As noted, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis agreed on Saturday to launch consultations on the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric cars.

Last week, the EU announced plans to impose taxes of up to 48% on electric vehicles imported from China, as per Bloomberg.

Also, the EU has launched a series of investigations against China, citing unfair trade practices, such as large government subsidies. Beijing retaliated with threats against European commodities.

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, who is in China on a visit, met with Wang on Saturday, confirming the EU's readiness to discuss the issue of customs duties.

"Now we need to be very careful, this is the first step, and many others will be needed. But at least this is the first step, which was not possible before. That is why today is a good evening if we want to try to maintain a level playing field and avoid a tariff war," Habeck told journalists in Shanghai.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, in October 2023, the reports came that the European Commission is conducting an investigation into alleged illegal subsidies by the Chinese government to domestic manufacturers of electric vehicles. This is intended to protect European electric car manufacturers from the influx of cheaper Chinese cars.

China expressed discontent with the probe, claiming there were no grounds for its conduct.