The British government is considering imposing high tariffs on electric cars imported from China, due to concerns that Beijing is flooding the market with vehicles produced with state subsidies, The Times reported yesterday, Sunday.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is reportedly preparing a package of tariffs on Chinese electric cars, citing dumping practices, according to the newspaper’s sources.
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When asked about this by the Reuters news agency, a British government spokesperson said that no tariffs have been imposed, but “we are continuing to discuss (…) with the industry so that our approach reflects the interests of the sector and the national interests of the United Kingdom.”
According to a report in The Times, a 45% tariff on Chinese electric cars is being considered to avoid the risk of Britain becoming a target of the proposals known as “Made in Europe,” which would hurt the sector’s sales in the EU.
This policy is designed to reduce dependence on Chinese products or their components and to prioritize goods produced in Europe, a development that concerns British automakers.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last month that he would argue that Europe must treat the country as a “trusted partner” when implementing the new policy, as a different approach would deal a blow to his country’s auto industry.
The Financial Times reported last month that Brussels urged Mr. Bernam to align with EU trade policy and raise tariffs on Chinese cars if he wants to avoid the barriers posed by the “Made in Europe” policy.
According to The Times, government ministers stress, however, that any decision to impose tariffs must be made in the British national interest and not to align with Brussels’ policy.
Source: Proto Thema
