EU, China negotiate to lift tariffs on electric cars

Media reports have revealed that the European Union and China are beginning negotiations to lift tariffs on Chinese electric cars.

The decision comes after US President Donald Trump had previously threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods if Beijing did not roll back its 34% retaliatory tariffs, which it announced in response to previous US tariffs.

Despite these threats, China has affirmed its determination to “fight to the end” and rejected what it described as US “blackmail.”

The trade dispute between the two countries has accelerated since the beginning of 2025, with the United States imposing successive tariffs on Chinese products, starting with a 10% increase in February, followed by further increases in March and April, reaching the current level of 104%. In response, China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on US products, escalating tensions between the world’s two largest economies. This escalation has raised widespread concerns about its impact on the global economy, with US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warning that the tariffs could lead to a “national economic recession.” Other countries, such as South Korea, Italy, and members of the European Union, have also expressed concern about the outbreak of a global trade war and have sought negotiations to avoid it. Amid this escalation, the international community is awaiting the next steps from both sides, with growing calls to return to the negotiating table and find diplomatic solutions to the escalating trade dispute.