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German car manufacturers against punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles

(dpa) VDA President Hildegard Müller clearly opposes punitive tariffs and considers them counterproductive. A trade conflict would endanger the transformation.

Trade without barriers: VDA President Müller considers anti-subsidy measures counterproductive and warns of a trade conflict that could endanger the transformation. In the picture: First charter freighter with BYD models for Bremerhaven. | Photo: dpa/Lars Penning
Trade without barriers: VDA President Müller considers anti-subsidy measures counterproductive and warns of a trade conflict that could endanger the transformation. In the picture: First charter freighter with BYD models for Bremerhaven. | Photo: dpa/Lars Penning
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Johannes Reichel

The German car manufacturers are opposing potential European punitive tariffs on the import of electric cars from China. The German Association of the Automotive Industry called for a willingness to engage in dialogue on both sides.

“Anti-subsidy measures, such as additional tariffs, would not solve the challenges for the European and German automotive industry - on the contrary: the intended purpose of compensatory tariffs by the EU Commission could quickly have negative effects in the event of a trade conflict,” said Association President Hildegard Müller to the "Welt am Sonntag". 

According to her, a trade conflict would also endanger the transition to electromobility and digitalization. The EU Commission has been investigating since last autumn whether e-cars in China benefit from illegal subsidies. According to the Commission, Chinese electric cars are usually about 20 percent cheaper than models made in the EU. An anti-subsidy investigation can lead to the imposition of punitive tariffs. A preliminary announcement from the Commission is planned by June 5, according to "Welt am Sonntag".

According to the Duisburg Center for Automotive Research, the Germans sell 30 to 40 percent of their cars on the Chinese market. In the event of European tariffs, German car manufacturers could therefore be the first target of possible Chinese countermeasures.

Translated automatically from German.
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