China files WTO appeal over new EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - China has filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union's new duties for electric vehicles (EVs) produced in China.

China firmly “regrets” the EU measures imposing high countervailing duties on EVs manufactured in China, said a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said Monday.

The spokesperson said China made the WTO appeal to safeguard its EV industry development interests and to support global cooperation on green transformation.

The EU Commission announced in October that its investigation into subsidies for electric cars made in China was complete, and additional customs duties would be applied to electric car imports from China to the EU for five years.

With the move, additional tariffs of 7.8% will apply to Tesla models made in China, 17% to those from Chinese company BYD, 18.8% to Geely, 20.7% to manufacturers cooperating in the investigation, and 35.3% to non-cooperative state-owned companies like SAIC Motor.