Anti-Chinese electricity subsidies duties, no postponement from the EU | FP

The European Union’s proposal to introduce tariffs on Chinese electric cars continues to be debated. The news is that the original deadlines will be respected: by July 9th a final decision will be made on the matter. Why July 9th? Because the European Commission can decide to impose provisional duties already within 9 months of the opening of the investigation, which dates back to 4 October 2023, although the closure of the latter is expected within a maximum of 13 months.

Timings respected

This was clarified by a spokesperson for the European Commission, who had been asked a question interrogative very precise: had the European Commission decided to postpone the decision initially scheduled for today until after the elections of 6-9 June? The answer is therefore no, for the reasons indicated above: the same spokesperson reiterated that the deadline of 5 June to decide whether to impose anti-subsidy duties on Chinese electric cars for Brussels it was a purely indicative roadmap, and that as scheduled there will be time until next July 4th to say the last word.

Anti-Chinese electricity subsidies duties

In recent days, the Minister of Business and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso had expressed his opinion on the topic: “The USA to protect the internal market from the invasion of cheap Chinese products they have put very high duties on their electric cars and Chinese overproduction will end up invading the European market, also wiping out businesses and jobs on our continent. For this reason we share the request to implement a policy of protection from unfair competition also from Europe, e.g I expect there will be measures in this regard soon“.

Tavares’ position

Like him, the CEO of Stellantis Carlos Tavares had also made his position explicit in this regard: “The duties imposed on Chinese battery-powered vehicles imported into Europe and the United States are one big trap for all those countries that follow this path. We are not talking about a Darwinian period, we are in it. And the price battle with Asian rivals will be very tough. It won’t be easy for dealers. It won’t be easy for suppliers. It won’t be easy for OEMs. If we let the share of Chinese OEMs grow, then it is obvious that excess capacity will be created, unless we decide to fight against such competition. As we all know well in Europe they talk about change as long as the change is for someone else“.