The European Commission has decided to impose additional tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs) built in China for five years, starting October 31. China's Ministry of Commerce has criticized the EU's investigation, noting that many practices were unjustifiable and non-compliant with established trade rules, amounting to unfair trade protectionism under the guise of "fair competition." In recent years, Chinese EVs have seen rapid growth, driven by advanced R&D, a mature supply chain, and lower production costs, making them increasingly popular among European consumers. However, under the pretext of protecting "fair competition," the EU's actions threaten to undermine global free trade.

By slapping extra tariffs on Chinese EVs, the EU risks escalating bilateral trade tensions, directly raising costs for European consumers and potentially harming the industry as a whole, leading to a lose-lose outcome. Moreover, higher vehicle costs could slow EV adoption across EU countries, hinder the green energy transition, and impact China-EU and global efforts to combat climate change.

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