The European Union's plan to increase tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles for the sake of immediate benefits is a form of trade protectionism and is detrimental to both sides, said a senior Chinese official when meeting with Germany's Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck in Beijing on Saturday.
Habeck, also Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, is on a three-day visit to China.
On Saturday morning, Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), met with Habeck and held the first high-level dialogue between China and Germany on dialogue cooperation mechanism for climate change and green transition.
Speaking at the dialogue, Zheng said that increasing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles are detrimental to both sides in a long run and will harm its own interests.
"As mentioned just now, the European Union's plan to increase tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles for the sake of immediate benefits is a form of trade protectionism. We will conduct research on some of the concerns you had mentioned. In the long run, these actions are detrimental to both sides, and some may even harm others without benefiting oneself. The tariff increase will not only harm the interests of EU consumers, but also severely impact the long-term healthy development of the European automotive industry," said Zheng.
EU's plan to increase tariffs on Chinese EVs detrimental to both sides: senior official
EU's plan to increase tariffs on Chinese EVs detrimental to both sides: senior official
EU's plan to increase tariffs on Chinese EVs detrimental to both sides: senior official
EU's plan to increase tariffs on Chinese EVs detrimental to both sides: senior official
