EU votes in favour of hefty tariffs on China-made EV imports

The European Union backed tariffs of up to 45% on imported Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) on Friday as it looks to counter Beijing's subsidies for automakers now targeting Europe.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN said: "The electric vehicle sector holds huge potential for Europe's future competitiveness and green industrial leadership."

"EU car manufacturers and related sectors are already investing and innovating to fully develop this potential. Wherever we find evidence that their efforts are being impeded by market distortions and unfair competition, we will act decisively."

"And we will do this in full respect of our EU and international obligations - because Europe plays by the rules, within its borders and globally. This anti-subsidy investigation will be thorough, fair, and fact-based."

GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER CHRISTIAN LINDNER wrote ON X affirming that the EU Commission "should not trigger a trade war despite the vote in favour of possible punitive tariffs against China. We need a negotiated solution."

SPAIN'S ECONOMY MINISTER CARLOS CUERPO said:"Beyond the imposition of tariffs, we have to continue going forward in this negotiation, since it is important to protect a sector as strategic as the automobile sector while avoiding an escalation of trade measures, which could be detrimental to all."

ITALY'S INDUSTRY MINISTER ADOLFO URSO said: "We are against any hypothesis of a 'trade war' and will work together to avoid it. We must preserve the industrial and commercial partnership with China, with whom we want to continue working in a win-win logic based on the principle of reciprocity, also for the sake of global economic stability."

Going ahead with individual solutions

SWEDEN'S MINISTER FOR FOREIGN TRADE BENJAMIN DOUSA:

"We have had very positive signals just recently from the Commission that they hopefully could go ahead with individual solutions for the auto industry and for Volvo Cars specifically."

"Sweden's line is that the best thing would be that China and the EU together can come to an agreement in relation to this problem."

HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN said: "What they are making us do right now, or what the EU wants to do, is an economic cold war."

SPOKESPERSON FOR THE FRENCH AUTOMAKERS ASSOCIATION (PFA) said: “It is a good thing that a decision has received support from member states for the adoption of customs duties. We are in favour of free trade but within the framework of fair rules.”