China and EU Reach "Soft Landing" Agreement on EV Tariffs
Reuters, Beijing, 28th: Chinese Commerce Minister stated during a meeting with the head of Germany's automotive industry association that China and the EU have achieved a "soft landing" regarding the EU's imposition of import tariffs on electric vehicles.
According to the website of China's Ministry of Commerce, the Chinese Commerce Minister emphasized that at the beginning of this year, both sides achieved a "soft landing" in the electric vehicle case through price commitments. He expressed hope that the EU would fulfill its pledge of non-discrimination, accelerate arrangements for negotiations with Chinese automakers, and promptly implement the price commitments.
He said that China closely monitors recent economic and trade restriction measures introduced by the EU, believing these protectionist measures will pose risks to Chinese enterprises and undermine confidence in investing in Europe.
According to Reuters, the Chinese Commerce Minister urged the German Automotive Industry Association to leverage its influence within the EU to press the bloc to "respect free competition, abide by WTO rules, and revise inappropriate provisions." This was included in the meeting minutes released Tuesday following his Monday meeting with Hildegard Müller, President of the German Automotive Industry Association.
The European Commission has imposed tariffs on imported Chinese-made electric vehicles produced after 2024. In February 2026, the European Commission initially approved an application from Cupra, a brand under Volkswagen, allowing its Tavascan SUV coupé, manufactured in China, to be exempt from tariffs—provided it meets minimum pricing and annual quota requirements.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1863748317537287/
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