The European Union's decision to impose anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) has met with considerable opposition from both its member states and industry leaders.
The European Commission -- the executive arm of the 27-nation EU -- approved to impose tariffs of up to 45 percent on Chinese electric vehicles after a pivotal vote on Friday, even after the bloc's largest economy and major car producer Germany rejected them.
In the vote, 10 EU members backed tariffs and five voted against, with 12 abstentions, according to a Reuters report. Nonetheless, the EU said it has received necessary support from its members.
Tanja Gonner, managing director of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), emphasized in a statement on Friday that the EU's decision to impose anti-subsidy duties on Chinese electric vehicles must under no circumstances mean the end of talks with China.
The German industry is calling on both sides to continue negotiations and prevent an escalating trade conflict, Gonner said.
She reiterated that both economic powerhouses should focus on risk management in their cooperation to avoid potential geopolitical and economic risks.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed strong opposition to the tariffs in an interview on Friday, calling it an approach that seems to be sealing its own competitiveness, growth and development potential.
The EU could slip into an "economic cold war" with China, Orban warned in the interview.
Orban emphasized that the tariffs would significantly impact Hungary's economy, adding that Hungary wishes to maintain an economically neutral stance.
The European Commission, however, added it would continue negotiations with China in parallel to explore an alternative solution.
China's Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that China believes the bloc is promoting unfair competition.
EU decision on Chinese EV tariffs ignites backlash from its members and industry leaders
New consumption scenarios have been seen playing a role in injecting vigor and vitality into the Chinese economy while meeting the people's diverse demands so far in the week-long National Day holiday which started on Tuesday. Around 24,000 events featuring cultural and tourism consumption are being unfolded across China in the holiday, in carrying forward traditional culture with new ideas and technologies.
Xi'an City in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, renowned for its abundance of historic sites, is enticing tourists by enabling them to taste cuisines from ancient recipes, wear customized costumes and visit old buildings dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) with VR glasses.
In Changde City of central China's Hunan Province, traditional operas and music plays have been staged on the bank of the Yuanjiang River, wowing tourists taking the boat down the watercourse.
With new high-speed railways facilitating transport to eastern Guangdong, Shanwei City has attracted flocks of tourists with its island and sea views. "We can try wearing head-pinned flowers, integrating coastal culture with China's traditional dresses. I think it is a new fashion among us young people," said Li En, a tourist. As the government-offered subsidy of 60 billion yuan (around 8.51 million U.S. dollars) for trade-in consumption is being distributed across China, over 1.04 million consumers bought over 1.54 million sets of the eight designated kinds of home appliances in the first three days of the holiday, with the sales reaching 7.357 billion yuan (around 1.04 billion U.S. dollars), according to the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce.
The eight kinds of home appliances consist of refrigerators, washing machines, television sets, air conditioners, computers, water heaters, cooking utensils, and range hoods.
Mega-cities like Beijing and Shanghai have opened a new batch of commercial complexes for consumers. In Beijing, an old railway station with a history of over half a century has been converted into a fair selling China chic products. The 60 major commercial circles in Beijing registered nearly 27 million tourist visits in the three days, up 20.9 percent year on year. In Shanghai, new fashion stores and art spaces have opened, enabling people nearby to enjoy a quality life.
New consumption scenarios boost economy in China's National Day holiday
