China has appealed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the European Union’s (EU) provisional countervailing measures on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), aiming to protect the rights and interests of its EV industry and foster global green transformation cooperation.
A recent global online survey conducted by CGTN has revealed that 87.5 percent of respondents believe the EU’s protectionist measures will exacerbate trade disputes and negatively impact the global automotive industry.
The survey indicates that the EU’s imposition of high tariffs on Chinese EVs, under the guise of countervailing measures, is perceived as a form of trade protectionism. Critics argue that such actions focus on unilateral benefits while overlooking the comparative advantages of Chinese EVs, many of which are produced through China-EU joint ventures. This approach is predicted to backfire, potentially harming the EU’s own interests.
According to the survey, 78.42 percent of respondents identified full market competition and rapid technological innovation as the primary drivers of China’s EV industry growth, rather than government subsidies. Moreover, 85.14 percent believe that the high tariffs will ultimately burden European consumers, while 80.74 percent think that these measures will severely weaken the competitiveness of the European automotive industry and undermine China-EU automotive cooperation.
As global climate challenges intensify, EVs have become crucial for countries aiming to achieve low-carbon development goals. The survey highlights strong support for China’s efforts in this area, with 87.96 percent of respondents praising China for its vigorous development of new energy industries, including EVs, and its significant contributions to the global economy and green development. In contrast, 82.96 percent criticized the EU for using protectionism in the EV industry, arguing that it undermines collective efforts to address climate change.
The importance of collaboration between China and the EU is underscored by the survey findings. An overwhelming 92.53 percent of respondents emphasized that the common interests between China and Europe far outweigh their differences, and strengthening cooperation is crucial to solving problems. Furthermore, 90.84 percent called for China and the EU to resolve trade frictions through dialogue and consultation, advocating for a cooperative rather than a protectionist approach to become stabilizing forces for global economic development and climate governance.
The CGTN survey, available in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian, gathered the views of 12,032 netizens within 24 hours, reflecting widespread concern and opposition to the EU’s trade protectionism measures.
