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Tariffs on Electric Cars from China: VDA and BDEW Criticize EU Commission's Plans

(dpa/jr) The automotive industry criticizes potential tariffs on electric cars from China as an obstacle to collaboration. VDA President Müller warns of the risk of global trade conflicts, as does BDEW Chief Kerstin Andreae. For Müller, China is needed as a partner to solve the climate crisis.

A ship may (not) come: If the EU actually imposes tariffs, the import of electric cars, here a BYD freighter with 3,000 electric cars on board in Bremerhaven, could become unprofitable. | Photo: dpa/Lars Penurn
A ship may (not) come: If the EU actually imposes tariffs, the import of electric cars, here a BYD freighter with 3,000 electric cars on board in Bremerhaven, could become unprofitable. | Photo: dpa/Lars Penurn
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The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) criticizes the EU Commission's threat to impose high tariffs on electric cars from China in the future. The President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) sees the tariffs as an obstacle to global cooperation. This increases the risk of global trade conflicts, she emphasized. "It is also a fact: countervailing duties on electric vehicles imported from China are not suitable for strengthening the competitiveness of the European automotive industry," she said on Wednesday. Kerstin Andreae, Chair of the BDEW Executive Board, and Müller criticized the EU Commission's threat in a joint statement.

"Global challenges require global partnerships. Challenges should be tackled through dialogue and primarily partnership-based solutions should be sought. Additional tariffs on electric vehicles from China are the wrong instrument. They do not help in achieving climate goals and supporting the transformation. Clearly, fair competition in the electric car market is needed, just like everywhere else - especially in the global division of labor and trade. Only with open, global sales markets can economies of scale be utilized and, as a result, more electric cars brought onto the roads."

The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) also warned that the step could lead to stronger trade conflicts.

Whether tariffs of up to 38.1 percent actually need to be paid depends, according to the information, on whether a different solution can be found with China. In certain cases, they would then be retroactively withheld from the beginning of July, should the EU agree to impose higher tariffs in the long term. 

“It is also up to China to approach Europe with constructive proposals, to consistently and quickly stop anti-competitive behavior, in order to avoid an escalation of trade conflicts,” said Müller. China is also needed, for example, to successfully tackle the climate crisis.

Translated automatically from German.
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