China has strongly criticized the European Union’s decision to impose tariffs of up to 38.1% on Chinese electric vehicles, calling it protectionist behavior and urging the EU to correct its “wrong practices,” reports Reuters. The reaction from China and other stakeholders, including European and Chinese automakers, highlights the opposition to the EU’s move and the desire to resolve the issue through dialogue.

China’s Response and Call for Dialogue

De woordvoerder van het Chinese ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, Lin Jian, verklaarde: "We dringen er bij de EU op aan om zorgvuldig te luisteren naar de objectieve en rationele stemmen uit alle lagen van de bevolking, onmiddellijk haar verkeerde praktijken te corrigeren, te stoppen met het politiseren van economische en handelskwesties en economische en handelswrijvingen op de juiste manier aan te pakken door middel van dialoog en overleg."

China beweert dat de tarieven het gebruik van EV zullen vertragen, de klimaatdoelstellingen in gevaar zullen brengen en de kosten voor consumenten zullen verhogen.

Ruimte voor onderhandeling

Despite the EU’s decision, there appears to be room for the two sides to continue discussions and find a solution.

Het Chinese staatspersbureau Xinhua zei hierover: "Hopelijk zal de EU maken nog eens goed over na te denken en niet verder de verkeerde kant op te gaan."

The EU’s move comes shortly after the U.S. announced plans to quadruple duties on Chinese EVs to 100%.

Impact op Chinese EV-fabrikanten

The EU will impose additional tariffs ranging from 17.4% for BYD to 38.1% for SAIC, on top of the standard 10% car duty. SAIC, China’s largest automaker, expressed deep concern over the tariffs. Geely also voiced disappointment and vowed to take necessary measures to protect its rights. However, Chinese EV maker stocks mostly shrugged off the news, with BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares closing up 5.8%.

European Automakers’ Stance

Ondanks de toestroom van goedkopere EV's van Chinese rivalen, is er vrijwel geen steun voor tarieven van Europa‘s auto industry. Major automakers like BMW, Volkswagen, Stellantis, and Mercedes Benz, which heavily rely on sales in China, fear retaliation from Beijing. Shares in some of Europe’s biggest carmakers fell for a second day due to concerns over China’s potential response.

The EU’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs has sparked strong opposition from China and other stakeholders. While China urges the EU to correct its “wrong practices” and engage in dialogue, there appears to be room for negotiation to avoid billions of dollars in new costs for Chinese EV makers. The impact of the tariffs on the global EV market and the potential for retaliation from China remain to be seen.

EVXL’s Take

The EU’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs highlights the growing tensions in the global EV market. While the move aims to protect European automakers, it risks slowing down the adoption of EVs and increasing costs for consumers. As a pro-drone publication, EVXL believes that open competition and collaboration are essential for driving innovation and making EVs more accessible to the masses. The potential for retaliation from China could also have far-reaching consequences beyond the auto industry, affecting sectors such as food and beverages. It is crucial for the EU and China to engage in constructive dialogue and find a solution that benefits all stakeholders and supports the growth of the EV market.