EU set to vote for tariffs on Chinese EVs

CGTN Europe

EU member states are expected to vote on Friday over whether to impose tariffs on imported electric cars from China.  But does everyone agree with it?  CGTN’s Ross Cullen reports.  #China #Europe #Trade #Tariffs #Imports

Transcript

00:00Well, the EU wants to impose these tariffs to protect its car industry, but Germany and

00:06Spain are against the move, warning of a possible trade war with China.

00:10France and Italy support the planned measures, and President Macron has previously called

00:15China's level of subsidies unbearable.

00:21I'm not too interested in electric cars.

00:24I hear from people who say that when they drive electric cars, they lose a lot of range

00:28very quickly.

00:29Also, it's not easy to recharge cars on freeways either.

00:36If China is ever taxed on electric vehicles in the European market, they could do the

00:42same thing and take market share away from us on some of the European and especially

00:47French products.

00:49France has a strong international presence in the spirits and luxury goods sector, so

00:54there's a risk.

00:55Although Emmanuel Macron does support the introduction of these tariffs, there are

00:59some warnings that bringing in these extra duties on one sector could have an impact

01:03on another industry, Cognac.

01:06China's launched an investigation through its imports of European wine-based liquors,

01:11and French brands constitute 99% of China's Cognac imports.

01:16There are worries of a major impact if Beijing imposes reciprocal duties.

01:21First of all, I believe they will try to sell more in the European market and in France

01:26particularly.

01:29And I believe that a lot of big houses of Cognac will still stand in the market, however

01:37the small houses will just die because they will not be able to sell their products anymore.

01:44China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao was in Brussels last month for last-ditch talks

01:49but the meetings broke up without an agreement.

01:51The Chinese government has warned there could be a major impact on bilateral trade if the

01:56European Union does press ahead with its auto tariffs.

02:00Wang also did say that China has been approaching the issue with consultation and dialogue.

02:05Ross Cullen, CGTN, Paris.

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