On August 20, the European Commission unveiled a draft of its final ruling in the duty investigation against electric vehicles from the Chinese mainland. The Commission proposes imposing duties ranging from 17 to 36.3 percent on these vehicles. Notably, a separate tariff of nine percent is suggested for Tesla’s electric vehicles manufactured in China. The proposed tariffs have elicited a strong response from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. Officials criticized the ruling, stating that it is based on “so-called ‘facts'” determined solely by the European side, without fully considering China’s position. The Ministry expressed that under the guise of defending fairness, the European Union is undermining fair competition and casting a protectionist shadow over free trade. This development highlights the growing tensions between the European Union and China in the electric vehicle sector, a vital industry for both economies. The proposed duties could have significant implications for global trade and the advancement of electric vehicle technology.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
