European Union votes to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles

The European Union on Friday voted to adopt definitive tariffs on China-made battery electric vehicles.

“Today, the European Commission’s proposal to impose definitive countervailing duties on imports of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China has obtained the necessary support from E.U. Member States for the adoption of tariffs,” the E.U. said in a statement.

The E.U. first announced that it would slap higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports in June, on the grounds that they benefit “heavily from unfair subsidies” and pose a “threat of economic injury” to electric vehicle producers in Europe.

Duties were also disclosed for individual companies that linked to their levels of cooperation and information they supplied to the E.U. as part of the bloc’s investigation into EV production in China, which began last year.

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Provisional duties were put in place starting in early July.

The European Commission then revised its tariff plans in September based on “substantiated comments on the provisional measures” from interested parties.

A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce told reporters that Beijing continues to believe that the investigation into China’s subsidies for its electric vehicle industry has come to “pre-set conclusions,” adding that the bloc is promoting unfair competition.

Reuters reported earlier this week that the E.U. was willing to continue talks even after tariffs are imposed.

Division in the E.U.

The decision comes after months of debates and deliberations between E.U. member countries, which have expressed varying opinions on increasing tariffs on imported Chinese-made EVs.

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While France has been a big supporter, previously pushing the E.U. to start investigations of potential tariffs, Germany has advocated against them, raising concerns about consequences for its own struggling carmakers.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Thursday that his country would veto a proposal from the European Commission that puts forward tariffs of up to 45%, Reuters reported.

Potential retaliation from China has been a key concern for some E.U. members, especially as China has already launched anti-dumping investigations into pork and brandy exports from the E.U., as well as an anti-subsidy investigation into E.U. dairy products.