The European Commission is threatening to impose provisional duties on imports of Chinese electric vehicles in July. Companies cooperating with the investigation could face a tariff of 21 percent, while non-cooperating companies could face a tariff of 38.1 percent. China has hit back at the EU, calling it protectionism and vowing countermeasures.

In an exclusive interview with CGTN's anchor Hou Na, Simon Schutz, spokesperson for the German Association of the Automotive Industry, said German automobile makers do not support the tariff imposition and called for efforts to avoid the escalation of trade tensions.