The European Union voted on Friday to impose tariffs as high as 45% on electric vehicles from China in a move set to increase trade tensions with Beijing, according to people familiar with the process.
The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, can now proceed with implementing the duties, which would last for five years, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Ten member states voted in favor of the measure, while Germany and four others voted against and 12 abstained.
The decision by the EU comes after an investigation found that China unfairly subsidized its industry. Beijing denies that claim and has threatened its own tariffs on European dairy, brandy, pork and automobile sectors.
The bloc is actively trying to reduce its dependencies on China, with former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi warning last month that “China’s state-sponsored competition” was a threat to the EU that could leave it vulnerable to coercion. The EU, which did €739 billion ($815 billion) in trade with China last year, was split on whether to move forward with the duties.
Cui Nyonya Kueh : They just want to kill the Chinese EVs. Started from US to Canada to EU . They cannot destroy Chinese ppl and my Chinese husbands !!!
Dragon Fish OP Cui Nyonya Kueh : Told you all already. US Canada and EU they are brothers no matter what they will stick together against China.
Cui Nyonya Kueh Dragon Fish OP : Sad. Pure discrimination!!
TWP PaPa : US and Canada and EU only make up 14% of the world