Last year, the EU launched an anti-subsidy investigation into imports of Chinese battery electric vehicles, and in October imposed definitive countervailing duties on these vehicles.
China called on France to play “an active role“with the European Commission in order to reach an agreement for the European and Chinese electric vehicle industriessaid the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Monday.
At a meeting with Sophie Primas, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of Foreign Trade and the French Abroad, in Shanghai on Sunday, Wang Wentao reaffirmed that the European Union’s investigation into Chinese electric vehicles was a major concern and had “seriously hampered“cooperation between China and the European Union in the automotive industry.
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Last year, the EU launched an anti-subsidy investigation into imports of battery-powered electric vehicles manufactured in China, and last October imposed definitive countervailing duties on these vehicles for five years. China then counter-attacked by launching an anti-dumping investigation into European pork and dairy products, and imposed temporary measures.
The Franco-Chinese tug-of-war
Sophie Primas is on a three-day visit to Shanghai, in particular to challenge the tariffs imposed by China on brandy, which Paris describes as political and unjustified.
Mr. Wang told Primas that China’s trade remedy investigations into EU brandy, pork and dairy products were in line with domestic industry demands and World Trade Organization rules,”unlike the EU“which has shown itself to be ” thoughtless “in launching its investigation into customs duties.
“China will continue to conduct investigations in strict compliance with the law, safeguard the legitimate rights of companies in EU member states, including France, and make decisions based on facts and evidence“Wang said in a Ministry statement.