By Ahmet Gencturk
ATHENS (AA) – EU countries have given the green light to over 36% tariffs on Chinese electric cars, Italy’s state-run ANSA news agency reported on Friday.
On the European Commission's proposal to introduce new tariffs, ten countries voted in favor, five voted against, and twelve abstained, the agency said.
It reported that qualified majority was reached for or against the proposal to impose definitive tariffs, and hence the decision was left to the commission, which assures that it will "continue to work hard" with Beijing "to explore an alternative solution that should be fully compatible with the World Trade Organization.
It maintained the commission sees the development a further step forward towards the conclusion of its s anti-subsidy investigation into subsidies by Chinese state to its electric car producers.
According to the report, Italy and France were among the countries that voted in favor, while Germany was one of the five countries that voted against.
Spain abstained, it added.