China complains to Prague about EU duties on EVs and asks for help
Beijing has made it clear that it does not accept Brussels' decision against Chinese carmakers.
The Chinese government on Sunday complained about European Union duties on Chinese electric vehicles and asked the Czech Republic for help in talks between Beijing and Brussels.
On Tuesday, the EU finalized its decision to impose duties of 17 percent to 35 percent on Chinese brands of EVs, in addition to the existing 10 percent tariff.
The blow against what the European Commission defined as a “threat of economic injury to EU producers” of electric cars came after a year-long investigation that found Chinese EV producers benefited from unfair subsidies.
Ling Ji, China’s vice minister of commerce, told Czech officials on Sunday that “China disagrees with and does not accept” this decision, according to a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
He also said that Beijing hopes that the Prague government will “play an active role” in creating “political will and negotiation sincerity in the China-Europe electric vehicle consultation.”
In parallel with the imposition of duties, Brussels and Beijing are negotiating alternative, World Trade Organization-compatible solutions to address the unfair subsidization without the imposition of duties.
“China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Czech side” in various fields, Beijing added.
The Czech representatives present at the meeting, according to the Chinese statement, said that Prague “advocated free trade and opposed protectionism.” Prague also “attaches great importance to the development of economic and trade cooperation with China,” the statement said.
Czech officials have not commented on the meeting.
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