EU should return to free trade, negotiation on Chinese EVs: scholar

It is in the best interest of the European Union (EU) to return to free trade and to negotiate with China, said a Polish scholar Wednesday following the EU's recent move to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese battery electric vehicles (EVs).

The EU countries voted on Oct 4 to impose duties on imports of electric vehicles from China despite huge internal discord.

The decision triggered criticisms from European media and transportation associations which say the punitive tariffs will harm the interest of the EU and its consumers, citing reasons including the technological advantages and innovative capacities of the Chinese EV makers and the good quality and affordable prices of their products.

"I would say China has invested heavily in the research and development [of EVs]. It is not as some European producers claimed. It's not only the subsidies. It's also the real investment in China that led to this competitive advantage," said Witold M. Orlowski, professor of the Department of Business and International Relations of Poland's Vistula University.

The lack of competitiveness of European EVs on the market is the real reason behind Friday's move, said the professor, adding that as the EU plans to ban the sale of fuel-powered car by 2035, the protectionist tariff is only an effort to win more time for local EV makers.

It is in the best interest of the EU to uphold free trade and consult with China, said Witold M. Orlowski, adding that Friday's decision represents a type of "war."

"The best interest of the European nations is to stop this type of the war and actually to negotiate and coming back to the situation of free trade," he said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said before Friday's vote that Germany is against imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs and Europe must continue its negotiations with China. "Tariffs on Chinese electric cars would be wrong ... We have to speak plainly and negotiate with China - but trade wars only have losers," said German Finance Minister Christian Lindner last Thursday on X.

The year-long conflict between Palestine and Israel since October 7 last year has resulted in the displacement of 4,555 Palestinians in the West Bank, with 1,768 buildings destroyed or sealed off, according to reports on Thursday.

According to Palestinian media reports, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) demolished two under-construction houses owned by local Palestinians in Salfit, located in the central West Bank, using bulldozers on Thursday.

Additionally, the IDF fired tear gas at Palestinian civilians near a military checkpoint in the northern Jordan Valley.