Trade tensions between the EU and China continue to escalate. According to a Bloomberg report on October 9, 2024, the European Commission recently decided to impose high anti-subsidy tariffs ranging from 35% to 48% on electric vehicles imported from China, triggering strong countermeasures from China.

EU Imposes High Anti-Subsidy Tariffs

On October 9, 2024, the European Commission announced the imposition of anti-subsidy tariffs as high as 48% on Chinese-made electric vehicles. This decision aims to protect the EUs automotive industry and prevent Chinese companies from gaining unfair price advantages in the market due to government subsidies. The tariff measures cover multiple electric vehicle models and are expected to significantly impact Chinas EV exports to the EU market.

Hungarian Prime Minister Criticizes EU Tariff Measures

On the same day, the Hungarian Prime Minister criticized the EUs tariff decision in a public speech, stating that the measure disregards the interests of Europes automotive industry and could lead to massive job losses. He emphasized that the lack of careful planning would severely impact the automotive sector and that the decision to impose additional tariffs on Chinese EVs would be counterproductive.

China Swiftly Implements Countermeasures

In response to the EUs high tariffs, Chinas Ministry of Commerce announced on October 11 that temporary anti-dumping measures would be imposed on EU brandy importers, requiring them to pay deposits ranging from 30.6% to 39.0%. This measure primarily targets French cognac, which accounts for 95% of Chinas brandy imports. Additionally, China stated that, if necessary, similar measures would be applied to more EU agricultural products, luxury goods, and large-displacement vehicles.

Trade Data and Market Impact

According to data from the French cognac regulatory body, France exported 61.5 million bottles of brandy to China in 2023, with an export value of $1.7 billion. Analysts predict that Chinas countermeasures could lead to a roughly 20% increase in brandy prices in the Chinese market.

Furthermore, the EUs tariffs on Chinese EVs are expected to significantly impact the competitiveness of Chinese automakers in the EU market. In 2023, the EUs auto exports to China reached €19.4 billion, while EV imports from China totaled €9.7 billion. Experts note that if China further imposes tariffs on other high-value EU exports such as luxury goods and vehicles, it would exacerbate trade tensions between China and the EU.

Prospects for Future EU-China Negotiations

Amid the current trade tensions, the EU and China are engaged in price undertaking negotiations to mitigate the negative effects of tariff measures. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the talks, the President of the European Council stated that the door is not closed, though reaching an agreement remains challenging. Analysts believe both sides must reach a deal in the coming weeks to avoid a full-scale trade war.

WTO Intervention and Legal Disputes

Chinas Ministry of Commerce pointed out that the EUs anti-subsidy measures lack factual and legal basis and clearly violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. China has decided to challenge the EUs measures at the WTO, calling for a multilateral framework to resolve trade disputes and safeguard China-EU economic relations.