Quotes: EU votes in favour of hefty tariffs on China-made EV imports

Allegro.eu SA

04/10/2024 12:41

(Adds EU Commission, Germany, Italy Spain, French and German
car associations)
       LONDON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The European Union backed
tariffs of up to 45% on imported Chinese electric vehicles (EVs)
on Friday as it looks to counter Beijing’s subsidies for
automakers now targeting Europe.
    Here is political and industrial reaction to the news:
    
    EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN:
    “The electric vehicle sector holds huge potential for
Europe's future competitiveness and green industrial leadership.
    "EU car manufacturers and related sectors are already
investing and innovating to fully develop this potential.
Wherever we find evidence that their efforts are being impeded
by market distortions and unfair competition, we will act
decisively.
    "And we will do this in full respect of our EU and
international obligations - because Europe plays by the rules,
within its borders and globally. This anti-subsidy investigation
will be thorough, fair, and fact-based.” 
    
    GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER CHRISTIAN LINDNER ON X: 
    The EU Commission "should not trigger a trade war despite
the vote in favour of possible punitive tariffs against China.
We need a negotiated solution."
    
    SPAIN'S ECONOMY MINISTER CARLOS CUERPO:
    "Beyond the imposition of tariffs, we have to continue going
forward in this negotiation, since it is important to protect a
sector as strategic as the automobile sector while avoiding an
escalation of trade measures, which could be detrimental to
all." 
    
    ITALY'S INDUSTRY MINISTER ADOLFO URSO: 
    "We are against any hypothesis of a 'trade war' and will
work together to avoid it. We must preserve the industrial and
commercial partnership with China, with whom we want to continue
working in a win-win logic based on the principle of
reciprocity, also for the sake of global economic stability".
    
    SWEDEN'S MINISTER FOR FOREIGN TRADE BENJAMIN DOUSA:
    "We have had very positive signals just recently from the
Commission that they hopefully could go ahead with individual
solutions for the auto industry and for Volvo Cars
specifically."
    "Sweden's line is that the best thing would be that China
and the EU together can come to an agreement in relation to this
problem."
    
    HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN:
    "What they are making us do right now, or what the EU wants
to do, is an economic cold war."    
    
    SPOKESPERSON FOR THE FRENCH AUTOMAKERS ASSOCIATION (PFA): 
    "It is a good thing that a decision has received support
from member states for the adoption of customs duties. We are in
favour of free trade but within the framework of fair rules." 
    
    BMW  BMWG.DE  CEO OLIVER ZIPSE:
    "Today's vote is a fatal signal for the European automotive
industry. What is needed now is a quick settlement between the
EU Commission and China to prevent a trade conflict from which
no one gains."
    "The fact that Germany voted against the tariffs is an
important signal and increases the chances for a negotiated
settlement."
    
    VOLKSWAGEN  VOWG_p.DE : 
    "We stand by our position that the planned tariffs are the
wrong approach and would not improve the competitiveness of the
European automotive industry."
    "We appeal to the EU Commission and the Chinese government
to constructively continue the ongoing negotiations for a
political solution."
    
    GEELY HOLDING  GEELY.UL :
    "Geely Holding expresses great disappointment in the
Commission's decision. The decision (...) is not constructive
and may potentially hinder EU-China economic and trade
relations, ultimately harming European companies and consumer
interests."
    
    GERMAN CAR LOBBY VDA PRESIDENT HILDEGARD MUELLER:
    "The proposed tariffs would not only further increase the
risk of a mutual trade conflict, but would also make vehicles
considerably more expensive for consumers. The potential damage
that could be caused by countervailing duties is therefore
greater than the potential benefits of the instrument.
    "Increasingly sealing off the market is not an option for
the European - and in particular the German - automotive
industry."
    
    SAIC  600104.SS  UNIT MG MOTOR FRANCE:    
    "Today, the European Commission is planning to excessively
tax the 100% electric vehicles offered by MG in France, thereby
slowing down the transition to more virtuous individual mobility
which the same Commission has called for by 2035."
    "Faced with this situation, MG Motor France has decided not
to penalise its customers in 2024, and to maintain the list
prices of its 100% electric models, the only ones affected by
the vote on Friday October 4, without even waiting for the
result."

 (Reporting by Reuters reporters; compiled by Josephine Mason;
editing by David Evans and Jason Neely)
 ((Josephine.Mason@thomsonreuters.com; +44 207 542 7695; Reuters
Messaging: josephine.mason.reuters.com@reuters.net))