Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – European Union (EU) officially beat the drum of a new war against China. This is related to the application of tariffs to Chinese electric vehicles (EV).
In a statement Wednesday (12/6/2026), the EU said it had officially imposed tariffs of 38.1% on battery electric vehicle (BEV) manufacturers who did not cooperate with Europe's trade investigation. If they are willing to comply with the wishes of the continent, then the applicable tariff will be lower, namely 21%.
It should be noted that the EU has always considered Chinese EV products to have benefited greatly from unfair subsidies. This poses the threat of economic losses for electric vehicle manufacturers in Europe.
“The EU is interested in imposing “temporary countervailing duties on BEV imports from China,” the statement was quoted as saying CNBC International.
In detail, the EU indicated that this was the result of an investigation that began in October. The tariffs are currently temporary, but will take effect from July 4 if talks with Chinese authorities are unsuccessful in reaching a resolution.
“Definitive action will be taken within four months of the introduction of the temporary duties,” the EU Commission said in a statement.
“The influx of subsidized Chinese imports at very low prices presents a clearly foreseeable and imminent threat of harm to EU industry,” he added.
The EU itself has imposed tariffs of 38.1% on the automotive company SAIC. China's main EV manufacturer, BYD, was subject to tariffs of 17.4% and Geely was subject to import duties of 20%.
All three manufacturers were sampled in the ongoing EU investigation. However, there has been no further confirmation regarding Elon Musk's Tesla, which also has a giant factory in Shanghai.
Previously, Beijing said it would “harm Europe's own interests”. Xi Jinping's government denounced this as the bloc's “protectionism.”
“The EU Commission will impose new duties on electric vehicles imported from China,” an industry source was quoted as saying AFP.
“This goes against the principles of market economics and international trade rules, weakening China-EU economic and trade cooperation as well as the stability of global auto production and supply chains,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian.
“We urge the EU to honor its commitment to support free trade and oppose protectionism, and work with China to uphold the overall interests of China-EU economic and trade cooperation,” he said again.
“China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” he threatened.
According to the US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, EU imports of electric vehicles from China jumped from around 57,000 in 2020 to around 437,000 in 2023. According to the Rhodium Group, the value increased in the same period from US$1.6 billion (Rp 26 trillion) to US$11.5 billion (Rp. 187 trillion).
Previously, pressure on Chinese electric cars was also carried out by the United States (US). Uncle Sam himself has increased tariffs for Chinese electric cars fourfold to 100%.
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