Hungary disagrees with Europe's punishment of Chinese electric car manufacturers, its economy ministry said on Wednesday, hours after the European Commission said it would impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports.

"Instead of punitive tariffs, the EU should support the European EV industry," the ministry said in a statement.

"We disagree with the brutal European punishment of Chinese electric car manufacturers with punitive tariffs," the ministry added. "Protectionism is not the solution."