China calls on France to push EU towards solution for electric vehicle industry

China called on France to play “an active role» to the European Commission in order to find an agreement for the European and Chinese electric vehicle industries, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

During a meeting with the Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of Foreign Trade and French people abroad, Sophie Primas in Shanghai on Sunday, Wang Wentao reaffirmed that the investigation by the European Union on Chinese electric vehicles was a major concern and had “seriously hampered» cooperation between China and the European Union in the field of the automobile industry.

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Indeed, last year the EU launched an anti-subsidy investigation into imports of battery electric vehicles manufactured in China and last October imposed definitive countervailing duties on these vehicles for five years. China then counterattacked by launching an anti-dumping investigation into European pork and dairy products and imposed temporary measures.

The Franco-Chinese standoff

Sophie Primas is visiting Shanghai for three days, in particular to contest these customs duties imposed by China on brandy, which Paris describes as political and unjustified.

Wang told Primas that China's trade remedy investigations into EU brandy, pork and dairy products were in line with domestic industry demands and World Trade Organization rules , “unlike the EU» who showed herself « thoughtless » by launching its investigation into customs duties.

«China will continue to conduct investigations strictly according to law, safeguard the legitimate rights of businesses in EU member states, including France, and make decisions based on facts and evidence.” Wang said in a ministry statement.