[Text/Observer Network, Xiong Chaoyan]

According to a Reuters report on April 23, Ola Kaellenius, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Daimler AG, mentioned during an event in China regarding the Sino-European tariff dispute that his company urged the EU to find a "fair solution" to create a fair competitive environment for electric vehicles made in China within Europe.

"We need to seek a win-win situation. Discussions about a level playing field are always reasonable in open markets. But pure tariff barriers are the crudest means you can use."

Kaellenius stated: "We hope that EU and Chinese negotiating representatives can reach a fair solution. According to what I have learned, they are currently discussing this. History has taught us that highly competitive economies are the most innovative. This is what we want."

It should be noted that this is not the first time Kaellenius has discussed trade disputes and issues of fair competition in the field of electric vehicles between China and Europe. At the beginning of this year, Kaellenius said that the EU should encourage Chinese automakers to open more factories in Europe as part of an agreement to cancel punitive tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles.

As chairman of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), he pointed out that decades ago, China had required European automakers to invest in the country to enter its market, and this practice might serve as part of the solution to current trade disputes between Europe and China.

"No one denies that a fair competitive environment is a reasonable discussion. The question is, what tools will you use?" In an interview published by the Financial Times on January 19, Kaellenius emphasized: "Do not accelerate protectionism, because... we will suffer greatly."

Kaellenius also stressed that tariffs would harm the automotive industry, and the EU should compromise with China to reach an agreement to cancel tariffs. He added that in areas such as raw materials, advanced chips, and components, China has become an indispensable part of the global automotive supply chain. "We just want to remind policymakers not to forget what has made us so successful in this complex world."

Last October 4, during the final vote on whether to impose anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese imports, EU member states failed to block the commission's tax proposal with 10 votes in favor, 5 against, and 12 abstentions. However, the Commission announced that it would continue to negotiate with China to explore "alternative solutions" that day. Many media outlets pointed out that the large number of abstentions highlighted the unease among member states about provoking a "trade war" with China.

For example, last October 8, China's Ministry of Commerce announced temporary anti-dumping measures on imports of brandy from the EU. Additionally, China has launched investigations into several EU products, including dairy products, pork products, chemical products, and brandy. EU media speculated that these measures were retaliatory actions taken in response to the EU's insistence on taxing Chinese electric vehicles. After the news was released, the share prices of French spirits producers suffered significant losses.

Vehicles exported to Europe by SAIC Group, SAIC Group

On October 29 last year, despite opposition from China, the EU Commission announced the termination of the "anti-subsidy investigation" without valid reasons and insisted on imposing a so-called "final anti-subsidy duty" on Chinese electric vehicles for five years.

According to the statement issued by the Commission on that day, in addition to the existing 10% tariff, the following anti-subsidy duties will be imposed on Chinese exporters:

BYD: 17.0%; Geely: 18.8%; SAIC: 35.3%;

Other cooperating companies will be subject to a 20.7% tariff;

After requesting a separate review, Tesla will be subject to a 7.8% rate;

All other non-cooperative companies will bear a 35.3% tariff.

The statement also mentioned that the EU and China will continue to strive for alternative solutions compatible with the WTO. Furthermore, the European Commission remains open to holding separate negotiations on price commitments with individual exporters.

Reuters reported that since President Trump came to power in the United States, the US has already begun initiating trade wars against some of its closest trading partners, including the EU and China.

Meanwhile, according to a message from Weibo @YuanYuanTanTian, recently, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao held video talks with EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Šefčovič. The press release mentioned that both sides should immediately start negotiations on price commitments for electric vehicles. It is understood that teams from both China and the EU have already started contact.

Reuters pointed out that like many other foreign automakers, Mercedes-Benz has seen declining sales in China, mainly due to intense competition from local competitors and other factors.

On April 22, the Mercedes-Benz Vision V concept car made its global debut at the 2025 Mercedes-Benz Brand Technology Day, and some models of this new fully electric luxury sedan will be produced in China.

In July 2023, Kaellenius told German Automobilwoche that his company would make China, the world's largest automobile market, the center of its "sales offensive" for the next generation of electric vehicles (EVs) starting in 2025. "To achieve this, we must master electric propulsion technology as perfectly as digitalization. This is what our customers expect," Kaellenius said.

This article is an exclusive contribution by Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496517712626352674/

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