EU introduces new plan involving tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles

The EU and China have clearly made progress in the dispute over tariffs on electric vehicles, "German television channel One reported on the 12th. Brussels has released a document outlining how to set a minimum price for electric vehicles imported from China to the EU.

On the 12th, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce simultaneously announced that the European side will release a "Guidance Document on Submitting Price Commitment Applications" and confirm in the document that the European side will uphold the principle of non discrimination, apply the same legal standards to each price commitment application in accordance with relevant provisions of the World Trade Organization rules, and evaluate it objectively and fairly.

The German newspaper "Handelsblatt" and "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" further provided details that the European Commission released general guidelines on price commitments on the 12th. Chinese pure electric vehicle exporters must submit a price commitment letter to the EU and directly coordinate their lowest prices with Brussels. The content of the commitment letter not only includes the lowest price, but also sales channels, cross subsidies, and future investment plans in the EU.

According to a report by German television, a spokesperson for the European Commission stated that the minimum import price can replace the tariffs currently imposed on Chinese electric vehicles. The spokesperson emphasized that this is only a guiding document and further measures are needed in the future.

Reuters reported that for China, the additional tariffs of up to 35.3% on electric vehicles are the biggest source of tension in China Europe trade relations. Both sides have previously held a series of talks to seek alternative taxation solutions. The Business Daily reported that the China Chamber of Commerce for Machinery and Electronics praised this as a "soft landing" in the electric vehicle tariff dispute. The chamber of commerce stated on social platform X that this move is expected to boost market confidence and provide greater stability and predictability for Chinese manufacturers and suppliers in Europe.