China proposes EU talks to resolve EV trade dispute

China has renewed its offer for talks with the European Commission to address ongoing trade tensions and avoid punitive tariffs on electric vehicles.

During a meeting in Brussels on Monday, Vice Commerce Minister Li Fei expressed China’s willingness to engage in dialogue to resolve disputes surrounding subsidies on Chinese-made electric vehicles. The move follows reports that the EU is considering lowering final tariffs on Tesla and other Chinese EVs.

China’s Ministry of Commerce emphasised the complexity of the subsidy issue but reaffirmed its commitment to finding a solution that aligns with WTO rules and supports stable China-EU trade relations.

The European Commission is expected to vote in October on whether to implement additional tariffs on Chinese EVs.

Attribution: Reuters

Subediting: M. S. Salama