The European Commission, which leads the EU's trade policy, announced last month it would slap import duties of up to 36 percent on electric vehicles imported from China.
China's commerce minister Wang Wentao will travel to Brussels next week in a last-ditch effort to stop the tariffs.
"The European Commission ignored the sincerity and efforts of the Chinese industry and plans to reject the flexible solution proposed by the Chinese industry without in-depth communication," a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.
"China is deeply disappointed by this."
The commission's rejection of several Chinese firms' offers for price undertakings, which set minimum import prices for exporters to offset subsidies is "inconsistent with the expectations of EU member states", the ministry said.
"The Chinese side has the greatest sincerity in resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, while also having the greatest determination to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises".
The tariffs will become definitive and last for five years after a vote by the European Union's 27 member states, expected before the end of October.
The EU decided in July to levy extra tariffs after an anti-subsidy probe concluded car manufacturers in China benefitted unfairly from state subsidies.
But divisions over duties have widened in the bloc recently, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urging the EU to "reconsider" tariffs on Wednesday while on an official visit to China.
On Thursday, a commission spokesperson said "several Chinese exporters" had submitted minimum import price proposals, but that none of the offers met Europe's requirements.
China last month filed an appeal against the EU's duties with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and also targeted the bloc's dairy imports with an anti-subsidy probe.
That came after China launched an anti-dumping investigation in June into pork imports from the bloc. Spain is the EU's largest exporter of pork products to China.
China, EU to hold talks on electric car tariffs Sept 19
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Sept 12, 2024 - China's commerce minister Wang Wentao will head to Brussels for talks with the EU's trade chief next week as Beijing makes a last-ditch effort to stop tariffs on Chinese electric cars, officials said Thursday.
The European Commission, which leads the EU's trade policy, announced last month it would slap import duties of up to 36 percent on electric vehicles imported from China.
The tariffs will become definitive and last for five years after a vote by the European Union's 27 member states, expected before the end of October.
Wang will discuss the issue with the EU's trade commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis, on September 19, commission spokesperson, Olof Gill, said.
His visit will come as divisions over duties widen in the bloc. Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez surprised many on Wednesday when he urged the EU to "reconsider" tariffs.
Germany, home to some of the world's biggest car manufacturers, has been vocal in its opposition to tariffs and welcomed Sanchez's intervention. German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said "the direction of travel is one that we share".
The EU decided in July to levy extra tariffs after an anti-subsidy probe concluded car manufacturers in China benefitted unfairly from state subsidies.
China last month filed an appeal against the EU's duties with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and also targeted the bloc's dairy imports with an anti-subsidy probe.
That came after China launched an anti-dumping investigation in June into pork imports from the bloc. Spain is the EU's largest exporter of pork products to China.
Although both sides have stressed that they want to resolve the issue through dialogue, Gill said offers made so far to address the bloc's concerns were not enough.
He said "several Chinese exporters submitted offers for price undertakings," which are commitments by exporters to respect minimum import prices in order to offset injurious subsidies.
After "thoroughly" looking at the offers, "the commission has concluded that none of the offers met these requirements", Gill told reporters in Brussels.
But he added, "the Commission remains open to a negotiated solution".
China's commerce minister to visit EU to discuss tariffs on EVs
Beijing (AFP) Sept 12, 2024 -
China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao will visit Europe this month to discuss the European Union's tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, as member states openly express doubts about the policy.
Beijing has railed against last month's announcement that five-year import duties of up to 36 percent would be levied on EVs imported from China.
The tariffs were instigated by the European Commission -- which oversees the bloc's trade policy -- on the grounds of unfair competition, but individual member states have expressed reservations.
Wang's trip to Europe will include talks on September 19 with the bloc's trade chief, Valdis Dombrovskis, a commerce ministry spokeswoman said Thursday.
They will "discuss the EU's anti-subsidy case against Chinese electric vehicles," she said at a regular news conference.
The announcement comes after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Wednesday the EU should "reconsider" the tariff plan, calling for a "compromise" between the economic powerhouses.
"As I said before, we don't need another war, in this case a trade war," Sanchez said at a press conference wrapping up a visit to China.
Brussels has launched a raft of probes targeting Chinese subsidies for solar panels, wind turbines and trains.
Beijing in turn has launched investigations into European brandy, some dairy and pork products imported into China.
Spain is the European Union's largest exporter of pork products to China.
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