EU imposes duties on EV imports from China

The investigation found that the BEV value chain in China benefits from unfair subsidies which is causing threat of economic injury to EU producers of BEVs, as the Commission said.

The investigation was announced by the European Commission in September 2023. This decision was based on growing evidence about the recent and rapid rise in low-priced exports of electric vehicles coming from China to the EU. 

Different Chinese automobile exporting producers will be subject to the following countervailing duties: BYD - 17.0%; Geely - 18.8%; SAIC - 35.3%. Other cooperating companies will be subject to a duty of 20.7%. Tesla will be assigned a duty of 7.8%. All other non-cooperating companies will have a duty of 35.3%.

The EU and China will continue to work towards finding alternative, WTO-compatible solutions that would be effective in addressing the problems identified by the investigation. The Commission also remains open to negotiating price undertakings with individual exporters.

In September, China exported 60,517 units of electric vehicle to EU, an increase of 61% year-on-year. 

Both Chinese and international shipowners have been expanding their car carrier fleets to cater the fast-growing demand for automotive imports into Europe from China.