2024-09-12 03:23:35
The Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez today called on the countries of the European Union, as well as the European Commission, to “reconsider” their position regarding the imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
“We have to review, all together, not only the member states, but also the Commission, our decision,” Sanchez said during a press conference in Shanghai, responding to a question about the concerns of the Spanish pig industry.
Beijing has launched a retaliatory anti-dumping investigation into imports of pork and pork-based products, of which Spain is the biggest European exporter to China.
“As I said before, we don’t need another war, a trade war in this case,” said Pedro Sanchez.
The head of the Spanish government said he expressed his “surprise” to Chinese President Xi Jinping at Beijing’s choice to respond through the pig industry.
China: EU tariffs on electric vehicles unfair, we will take action
Extra taxes
The European Commission announced on August 20 its decision to impose additional tariffs for five years on Chinese-sourced electric vehicles, including those from US carmaker Tesla, which has a factory in Shanghai.
Brussels will add to the 10% tax already in place on imports of Chinese electric vehicles, an additional tax of up to 36%.
Those tariffs will be in place until the end of October and for five years, if approved by the 27, who are divided on the issue and called to a vote. They will then replace temporary taxes that were decided in early July and reach up to 38%, according to the Commission.
With these extra duties the EU hopes to protect the car industry which employs 14.6 million people across the EU, while avoiding a clash with its second largest economic partner after the United States.
Sources: Reuters, AFP, APE-MPE