China Challenges EU Tariffs on Electric Vehicles at WTO
In a move to protect its electric vehicle industry and global cooperation on climate change, China has filed an appeal with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union’s imposition of additional tariffs on imports of electric vehicles from China.
The appeal was filed on August 9, citing the EU’s temporary anti-subsidy measures on electric vehicles (EVs) as a violation of WTO rules. China’s commerce ministry stated that the measures lack a factual and legal basis, undermine global cooperation on climate change, and unfairly target its electric vehicle industry.
The EU had slapped extra provisional duties of up to 38 percent on Chinese EV imports in July, following an investigation by its executive arm, the European Commission, which concluded that Chinese EVs were unfairly undermining European rivals. China is now urging the EU to correct its "wrong practices" and maintain stability in China-EU economic and trade cooperation, as well as EV industrial and supply chains.
The dispute highlights the growing tensions between China and the EU over trade and tariffs, particularly in the context of the global shift towards electric vehicles and green energy. China’s appeal to the WTO is a clear attempt to safeguard its interests and protect its electric vehicle industry, which is a key sector in the country’s efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy.
