BEIJING, Oct 30 – China has rejected the European Commission’s decision on Tuesday to impose anti-subsidy duties on China-made electric vehicles (EVs), denouncing the move as “protectionist”, CGTN reported.
A Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson on Wednesday said China “does not agree with or accept” the EU’s move and has filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism.
The country will continue to take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, the spokesperson added.
The president of Germany’s auto industry association VDA said that German and European manufacturers who export from China to the EU are burdened with higher duties than individual competitors from China and the US.
“The intended tariffs not only increase the risk of a mutual trade conflict, but would also make vehicles significantly more expensive for consumers,” said VDA President Hildegard Muller in a statement.