EU member states are expected to vote on Friday over whether to impose tariffs on imported electric cars from China.
But does everyone agree with it?
CGTN’s Ross Cullen reports.
#China #Europe #Trade #Tariffs #Imports
But does everyone agree with it?
CGTN’s Ross Cullen reports.
#China #Europe #Trade #Tariffs #Imports
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NewsTranscript
00:00Well, the EU wants to impose these tariffs to protect its car industry, but Germany and
00:06Spain are against the move, warning of a possible trade war with China.
00:10France and Italy support the planned measures, and President Macron has previously called
00:15China's level of subsidies unbearable.
00:21I'm not too interested in electric cars.
00:24I hear from people who say that when they drive electric cars, they lose a lot of range
00:28very quickly.
00:29Also, it's not easy to recharge cars on freeways either.
00:36If China is ever taxed on electric vehicles in the European market, they could do the
00:42same thing and take market share away from us on some of the European and especially
00:47French products.
00:49France has a strong international presence in the spirits and luxury goods sector, so
00:54there's a risk.
00:55Although Emmanuel Macron does support the introduction of these tariffs, there are
00:59some warnings that bringing in these extra duties on one sector could have an impact
01:03on another industry, Cognac.
01:06China's launched an investigation through its imports of European wine-based liquors,
01:11and French brands constitute 99% of China's Cognac imports.
01:16There are worries of a major impact if Beijing imposes reciprocal duties.
01:21First of all, I believe they will try to sell more in the European market and in France
01:26particularly.
01:29And I believe that a lot of big houses of Cognac will still stand in the market, however
01:37the small houses will just die because they will not be able to sell their products anymore.
01:44China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao was in Brussels last month for last-ditch talks
01:49but the meetings broke up without an agreement.
01:51The Chinese government has warned there could be a major impact on bilateral trade if the
01:56European Union does press ahead with its auto tariffs.
02:00Wang also did say that China has been approaching the issue with consultation and dialogue.
02:05Ross Cullen, CGTN, Paris.