Chinese car companies demand retaliatory tariffs against European vehicles

Chinese automakers are considering urging Beijing to increase tariffs on imported European gasoline-powered cars, in response to restrictions imposed by Brussels on exports of electric cars made in China.

CNBC quoted the state-backed Chinese newspaper Global Times as holding a closed meeting in which Chinese automakers called on the government to adopt firm countermeasures and suggested giving positive consideration to raising the temporary tariff on gasoline-powered cars. High displacement.

The meeting, which was organized by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, was attended by representatives of SAIC, BYD, BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, and others. Its main goal was to put pressure on Europe and pressure against the tariffs announced by Brussels. Last week, to protect the auto industry from Chinese competition>

The European Commission said on Wednesday that it was examining the situation with the aim of discussing whether it is possible to find a solution acceptable to both parties.

EU trade policy is turning increasingly protectionist, amid concerns that China’s production-focused, debt-driven development model could lead to the 27-member bloc being flooded with cheap goods, including electric vehicles, as Chinese companies look to boost sales abroad due to weak demand at home.