Die EU kann Zusatzzölle auf Elektroautos aus China erheben. Es hat sich keine ausreichende Mehrheit der EU-Staaten gegen das Vorhaben ausgesprochen, wie Diplomanten am Freitag bestätigten. Damit kann die Europäische Kommission frei entscheiden, Zusatzzölle von bis zu 35,3 Prozent einzuführen. Sie kommen zu dem Standardsatz von 10 Prozent hinzu.
Deutschland konnte sich nicht mit seiner Position durchsetzen. Das bevölkerungsreichste EU-Land stimmte in Brüssel zwar gegen die Zölle, stand damit aber weitgehend allein da. Nach Informationen der F.A.Z. stimmten am Freitagvormittag nur vier andere EU-Staaten gegen die Zölle. Zehn weitere Staaten enthielten sich. Um die Zölle zu verhindern, hätte sich eine Mehrheit der EU-Staaten gegen das Vorhaben aussprechen müssen, die zusammen mindestens 65 Prozent der Gesamtbevölkerung der EU ausmachen.
The federal government was also divided for a long time. Shortly before the vote, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) ensured that Germany voted against it. In the traffic light coalition, the FDP-led ministries of finance and transport had pushed for a German no vote in Brussels, as the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) had also demanded. Scholz also opposed the tariffs from the start. The Green-led economic and foreign ministries, on the other hand, had shown themselves open to this and recently advocated abstaining from the vote in order to continue looking for a negotiated solution with China.
The tariffs could still be stopped
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen initiated the additional tariffs in the fall of last year. They are intended to compensate for the high subsidies that China pays electric car manufacturers to enable “fair” competition. The Commission had already proposed imposing additional tariffs in July. Whether the import duties come into force on November 4th as planned is now in the hands of the Commission. It is certain that she will stick to it.
However, if a solution is reached with China at the negotiating table in time, the tariffs can still be stopped. Ultimately, this still applies even after it comes into force. The Commission said on Friday it would continue to negotiate with China on a solution that would be consistent with international trade rules.
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