Chinese automakers have urged Beijing to impose trade fees of up to 25 % on Foreign competitors in the event that the trading bloc will impose tariffs on Chinese vehicles, according to the country’s state media.
According to reports, the need was made at a closed-door meeting convened by China’s Ministry of Commerce, to which even representatives from European car companies were present.
The steps may target big gasoline-powered vehicles imported from the EU.
Last week, the EU threatened Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers with tariffs of up to 38% from 4 July.
According to an essay published by a social media account connected to the state broadcaster Video, four Chinese and six German car firms attended the meeting in Beijing.
Ford, a European automobile manufacturer, has confirmed to the BBC that it was present at the meeting but has declined to comment on the discussions.
Other European firms that were apparently current, including BMW and Porsche, did not immediately reply to the BBC’s requests for comment.
According to the report,” China’s car organizations called on the government to take strong measures against the EU.”
A higher interim price may be imposed on large-distance gasoline vehicles imported from Europe, according to the Word Trade Organization rules.
The reports echo an article from the state-run paper Global Times last month that suggested car tariffs should be applied.
The move had targeted “luxury or extra luxury” vehicles, meaning” an extra tax is never likely to make much of a difference on volumes”, Bill Russo, from consulting firm Automobility, told the BBC.
Chinese EV manufacturers will be subject to tariffs “provisionally concluded” by the EU’s governing European Commission (EC ) last week,” should discussions with Chinese authorities not lead to an effective solution.”
Companies that co- operated with the investigation, which was launched in October, does mouth an ordinary 21 % work, while those who did not had experience one of 38.1 %.
These fees may be added to the 10 % tax currently in place on all Chinese electric vehicles.
The EU’s intervention comes after the US made the much bolder move of raising its tariff on Chinese electric cars from 25% to 100% last month.
The Taiwanese government has since started hostile steps after the federal labeled the actions protectionism.
China opened an investigation into the imports of Western meat products earlier this year.
Last month, Beijing signalled a similar move by launching an investigation into imports of chemicals from the EU and US.