Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner responsible for the Internal Market, raised the possibility of a significant increase in customs duties on cars made in China.
During her State of the Union speech, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, directly attacked electric cars from China. She announced that Europe would investigate Chinese public subsidies for electric automobiles. These would allow Chinese brands to offer prices on the Old Continent “ artificially low.
If violations of trade rules are found, Europe could punish vehicles made in China by raising customs duties. They are currently 10%. This Sunday (September 17), Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner responsible for the Internal Market, became more precise.
At the microphone of LCI, he declared: “ Generally, I do not want to prejudge what the results of the investigation that we open will give, but generally, if I look at what happens to the investigations that we open, it often results in increases in rights of customs from 10 to 20%.
Which would therefore have the effect of increasing the prices of models from China. Thierry Breton explained: “There will be discussions with the Chinese authorities, with the car manufacturers.” He said this would affect all electric cars from China, not just those from Chinese brands. Several European or American firms have their cars assembled in this country, for example Dacia, Tesla or Volvo.
China had already made it known that there was no illegal practice, that it was just reaping the fruits of its advance in the field of electric cars. For her, this approach by Europe is “ openly protectionism” et “will have a negative impact on economic and trade relations between China and the European Union”.
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