The European Union Affairs Committee supports customs duties on electric cars from China

NordenBladet —

In summer, the European Commission imposed provisional countervailing duties on subsidised electric cars from China. Within four months from the provisional decision, Member States have to decide whether to impose a definitive countervailing duty.

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said that a study conducted by the European Commission had proved that China subsidised its electric car manufacturers, which was clearly unfair competition on the European car market. “The European Union needs to mitigate the risk to its automotive industry and its economy in a wider context, and that is why it is fair to impose a countervailing duty on the electric cars imported from China. Tariffs create an opportunity for our European manufacturers to compete with Chinese electric cars in Europe,” Tali added. “We must not accept market distortions silently, because if we do that, we will remain under the economic pressure from communist China also in other sectors.”

According to the Transport Administration, 12,944 passenger cars have been bought in Estonia during the first eight months of 2024. Of these, the electric vehicles form 6.4 per cent, or 878 vehicles, and the electric vehicles from China account for 15.6 per cent of electric vehicles, or 137 vehicles, which is one per cent of all passenger cars purchased.

If the European Commission imposes a definitive countervailing duty, its size will depend on the manufacturer, and will range between 7 and 35 per cent. The United States and Canada have also imposed tariffs on electric cars from China.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The European Union Affairs Committee supports customs duties on electric cars from China

Source: Parliament of Estonia