Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Today, nine months after the launch of the automatic anti-subsidy investigation, the European Commission imposed temporary countervailing duties on imports of battery electric vehicles from China. According to a statement issued by the Commission's headquarters in Brussels, it added that based on the investigation, the Commission concluded that the value chain of battery-powered electric vehicles in China benefits from unfair subsidies, which causes a threat of economic harm to producers of battery-powered electric vehicles in the European Union. The investigation also examined the potential consequences and impacts of these measures on importers, users and consumers of battery electric vehicles in the EU.
Consultations with the Chinese government have intensified in recent weeks, following an exchange of views between Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. Contacts continue at the technical level with the aim of reaching a solution that is compatible with the World Trade Organization and appropriately addresses the concerns raised by the European Union. Any negotiated outcome of the investigation must be effective in addressing the harmful supports identified.
The individual duties applied to the three Chinese producers sampled are:
BYD: 17.4%;
Geely: 19.9%;
SAIC: 37.6%.
Other electric vehicle producers in China that cooperated in the investigation but were not sampled are subject to a weighted average duty of 20.8%. The fee for other non-cooperating companies is 37.6%.
Compared to the previously announced rates on June 12, 2024, the interim fees have been revised slightly lower based on feedback on the accuracy of the calculations provided by interested parties. All detailed findings of the investigation are reflected in the executive regulations now published in the Official Gazette.