Brussels is expected to inform Chinese carmakers of new duties on electric vehicles only after Sunday’s election.

On the eve of the European election, Beijing is brandishing both carrot and stick in an attempt to stop the EU from imposing duties on electric cars made in China — duties that would be almost certain to trigger a tit-for-tat trade war.

Beijing, which has sent two ministers to tour Europe, claimed it was both “open to holding dialogues” with the European Union while at the same time reminding the bloc that any measures against EVs would represent “a real loss of money” that would damage the EU’s future prosperity.

The European Commission is expected, by the middle of next week, to inform Chinese EV-makers of the duties they would face following its investigation into suspected unfair state subsidies.

  • @IrateAnteater
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    4723 days ago

    One of my issues with accepting cars sold by Chinese manufacturers, tariff free, is that it’s not a level playing field. If China wants unimpeded access to European (and North American) markets, then they should allow foreign manufacturers unimpeded access to the Chinese market. Currently, foreign automotive manufacturers cannot access the Chinese market without forming a partnership with a Chinese company, and they cannot own more than a 49% share of said Chinese company.

    • 100
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      1923 days ago

      exactly this, any exports from china should face same restrictions as imports to china

      • @[email protected]
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        523 days ago

        More, when in cases like this, the Chinese government is subsidizing the car’s manufacturing. Even without the tariffs, they aren’t playing on a level playing field. And guess what happens after they corner the EV market as planned?

        It’s not hard to comprehend. The strategy is simple. Makes you wonder about the motives behind those crying “free market”

        • @[email protected]
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          323 days ago

          And not just the EV market. By messing their exchange rates, and stopping unions from forming, they’ve been intentionally depressing wages to stay relevant as a manufacturing hub and to ensure leverage. They’ve essentially been subsidising a bunch of our stuff for a while