The European Commission's recent announcement to impose protectionist duties on imports of battery electric vehicles (EVs) from the Chinese mainland has ignited significant opposition among European political and business leaders. The proposed tariffs, ranging from 17.4% to 38.1%, aim to regulate the influx of Chinese EVs into European markets.
Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy criticized the move as overly protectionist, stating, \"Protectionism is not the solution.\" He argued that the Commission's decision would unfairly target manufacturers from the Chinese mainland, disrupting essential market competition within the European Union.
Volker Wissing, Germany's Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, highlighted the negative impact on German companies, emphasizing that \"Vehicles must become cheaper through more competition, open markets and significantly better location conditions in the EU, not through trade wars and market isolation.\" He expressed concerns over the potential for escalating trade conflicts, which could harm both European and German automotive industries.
Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, echoed these sentiments, pointing out that high tariffs could undermine global cooperation efforts and the transition towards electromobility. BMW CEO Oliver Zipse added that protectionism risks initiating a cycle of retaliatory tariffs, leading to further market isolation.
Other major European carmakers, including Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, joined the chorus of opposition, advocating for fair competition and free trade. Stellantis also opposed the tariffs, promoting collaboration with Chinese electric carmaker Leapmotor to compete on a global scale.
European governments showed skepticism towards the Commission's approach. Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Johan Forssell, questioned whether the EU had considered alternatives to tariffs, noting that consumers would ultimately bear the cost. Norway, a non-EU member, decided not to follow suit, with Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum declaring that tariffs on vehicles from the Chinese mainland are neither relevant nor desirable.
Critics argue that the proposed tariffs could hinder the growth of the European EV market and delay progress in addressing climate change. They advocate for enhancing the global competitiveness of the European automotive industry through innovation and collaboration rather than imposing restrictive trade measures.
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European political, business leaders oppose Commission's plan
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