BUSINESS
EU hikes tariffs on China’s EVs
June 25, 2024 - The European Union plans to introduce additional tariffs of 17% to 38% on imports of electric vehicles (EVs) from China. The levies will apply in addition to the EU’s standard 10% car tariffs.
China’s Premier Li Qiang hit back at accusations from the U.S., Canada, and EU that Chinese firms benefit from unfair subsidies and claims that Beijing dumps cheap goods into the world economy.
“China’s production of advanced electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products, etcetera, first met our domestic demand, but also enrich global supply,” Li said in opening remarks at a World Economic Forum meeting in Dalian, northeastern China, on Tuesday.
The remarks come as Canada moved to clamp down on imports of Chinese-made EVs, aligning itself with the Biden administration on trade.
Last month, the White House unveiled plans to nearly quadruple U.S. tariffs on Chinese-manufactured EVs, up to a final rate of 102.5%. At the same time, the European Union also plans to increase tariffs, taking those levies up to 38.1% on Chinese manufacturers such as BYD, Geely, and SAIC, as well as Chinese-built Tesla and BMW cars.
China is Canada’s second-largest trading partner, following the United States.
- Unpacking the European Union’s Provisional Tariff Hikes on Chinese Electric Vehicles (Center for Strategic & International Studies)
- China, European Union Agree to Hold Talks on EV Tariffs (Bloomberg)
- How did China come to dominate the world of electric cars? (MIT Technology Review)
- Exclusive: EU investigators to inspect China's BYD, Geely and SAIC in EV probe (Reuters)