Trade dispute Dispute with China: EU states clear the way for car tariffs
The EU can impose additional tariffs on electric cars from China. Several EU diplomats confirmed to the German Press Agency that a sufficient majority of EU member states have not spoken out against the plan.
04.10.2024, 11:24
SDA
This means that the EU Commission can decide to introduce duties of up to 35.3%.
Germany was unable to assert its position. Although the most populous EU country voted against the tariffs in Brussels, a majority of the EU member states, which together make up at least 65% of the total population of the EU, would have had to oppose the project in order to prevent them.
However, the German government was also initially divided until Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) brought about a decision shortly before the vote. In the traffic light coalition, the FDP-led ministries of finance and transport insisted on a German "no" in Brussels. Scholz was also critical of possible punitive tariffs. The Green-led economic and foreign ministries had argued for abstaining from the vote in order to continue the search for a negotiated solution with China.
The European Commission had announced the additional tariffs after an investigation accused Beijing of promoting e-cars with subsidies that distort the market in the EU. It is up to the Commission to decide whether the import duties will come into force at the beginning of November. However, if a solution is reached with China at the negotiating table in time, the tariffs could be stopped.
