EU to hit Chinese electric vehicles with extra tariffs of up to 38%

The move comes as European automakers are being challenged by an influx of lower-cost EVs from Chinese rivals.

Less than a month after Washington quadrupled duties for Chinese EVs to 100%, Brussels is expected to set almost certainly far lower tariffs for imports from Chinese makers such as BYD. Photo: Joe Evans

The European Commission told automakers on Wednesday it would impose extra duties of up to 38.1% on imported Chinese electric cars from July, in a move that China called protectionist but its car industry dismissed as one without a major impact.

Less than a month after Washington quadrupled duties quadrupled duties for Chinese EVs to 100%, Brussels said it would set additional tariffs of 17.4% for BYD, 20% for Geely and 38.1% for SAIC, on top of the existing 10%, over what it said were excessive subsidies.