EU ready to allow retroactive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles – 03/06/2024 – Market

The European Commission will begin customs registration of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports on Thursday (7), meaning they could be hit with tariffs from that point if a European Union trade investigation later concludes they are receiving unfair subsidies.

The Commission is carrying out an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese battery electric vehicles to determine whether to impose tariffs to protect EU carmakers. The investigation is expected to be completed in November, although the EU could impose interim charges in July.

In a document published on Tuesday (5), the commission said it had sufficient evidence to show that Chinese EVs were being subsidized and that imports had risen 14% year on year since the investigation was formally launched in October.

The document stated that EU manufacturers could suffer damage that would be difficult to repair if Chinese imports continued at this rapid rate before the investigation was completed.

The China Chamber of Commerce for the EU said it was disappointed with the move and that the rise in imports reflected greater European demand for electric vehicles.