China announces progress in electric vehicle tax negotiations with EU

Employees work on an electric vehicle (EV) production line at the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua city, Zhejiang province, eastern China on September 18 this year - Photo: AFP

"There are still big differences between the two sides," China's Commerce Ministry pointed out, adding that it had invited EU negotiators to further discussions in China.

Negotiators "made significant progress in a number of areas," but "have not yet reached a mutually acceptable solution," the ministry said in a statement.

"Hopefully the EU can reach an agreement with China, arrange to visit China as soon as possible and accelerate consultations with a constructive attitude, so as to reach a suitable solution as soon as possible," the statement said.

According to AFP news agency, the EU has decided to impose a new tax of up to 35.3% on electric cars imported from China.

The EU has rejected Beijing’s proposal to sell Chinese electric cars in the EU at a minimum price of 30,000 euros ($32,000), which China initially hoped would help stave off EU tariffs next month.

Representatives from Beijing and the 27-member bloc have held eight rounds of talks in Brussels since September 20 this year.

China and the EU are major economic partners, but have been at odds in recent months over China's massive subsidies to domestic industries.

The EU argues that such support undermines the principle of free competition and contributes to the price reduction of Chinese exports, weakening European competitors. Meanwhile, Beijing has rejected the allegations and accused the EU of trade protectionism.

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on October 8 that it would impose “provisional anti-dumping measures” on imported spirits from the EU. This year, China launched an investigation into EU spirits, months after the bloc launched an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/trung-quoc-thong-bao-ve-tien-trien-dam-phan-thue-xe-dien-voi-eu-20241012193254144.htm