Anti-subsidy duties on Chinese electric vehicles become definitive
The European Union finally validated the anti-subsidy duties on imports of Chinese electric vehicles.
The long-awaited vote by the Twenty-Seven on anti-subsidy duties on Chinese electric vehicles imported into the Community has taken place! Ten Member States, including France, voted in favour, twelve abstained and five, including Germany, voted against. The provisional duties will therefore be definitively collected and the next imports to EU soil will be directly taxed for a period of five years.
In response to this decision, China immediately replied by introducing additional customs duties on European brandies upon their entry into Chinese territory, a threat that Beijing had been brandishing on the nose and beard of Brussels for several months, and which could hit French cognac and armagnac with full whips (cf.China-France: Chinese President visits Paris).
Both sides are trying to continue the discussions to reach a common ground, even if the context is particularly difficult, and do not despair of ending the escalation of repressive measures that has been taking place in recent months.
However, the complaints lodged with the World Trade Organisation by China and the EU in this context of trade war, respectively, should be dealt with in a relatively long time frame, which will not allow tensions to be eased quickly.
Editor(s): D. GRAS