European Commission Implements 35% Surcharge on Electric Cars Imported from China Starting Thursday

Le Monde emphasizes that despite the taxes, the price of models from Chinese manufacturers will still remain competitive. Therefore, this protectionist policy has its limits.

Impose a surcharge on Chinese vehicles

As reported by France Info on Wednesday in the Official Journal of the European Union, a decision should be published stipulating that additional customs duties will be imposed on electric cars imported from China. This decision should come into force on Thursday October 31.

It was adopted today, Tuesday October 29, by the European Commission. Concretely, a 35% surcharge will be added to Chinese-made battery vehicles on the 10% customs duties already established.

The political-economic impacts of this decision

Politically, it is a “important signal” sent to China, as Le Monde points out. A signal that Germany did not intend to send: in fact, before this decision was taken, the German Minister of Finance, Christian Linder wanted to avoid triggering a trade war with the East Asian country.

Economically, this proves that the EU is ready to safeguard its own industry. Indeed, Chinese manufacturers benefit from massive aid, and can therefore produce at lower costs. Consequently, this could contribute to creating unfair competition with European manufacturers.

Chinese software and hardware banned in the United States?

On the other side of the Atlantic, the United States is also shunning Chinese manufacturers. According to a report published by Reuters on September 23, 2024, the US Department of Commerce proposed banning “Chinese software and hardware” from US roads.

The initial objective of these measures is in this case not purely economic. This is to prevent the massive arrival of Chinese cars on American soil, potentially dangerous for “national security”, and that the cars made in China presented on American soil are in reality vehicles manipulated remotely by the Asian government, or that they are spies on behalf of the East Asian country.

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