Germany’s plot to face off Chinese car tariffs has failed – for now

Germany has voted to oppose a proposal by the European Commission to introduce additional tariffs on electric cars imported from China. This was no surprise: in the days leading up to today’s meeting, German chancellor Olaf Scholz and other government officials in Berlin had made clear that they had instructed the country’s representative not to vote in favour of such tariffs, widely described as ‘punitive’.

Alongside Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Malta and Slovenia voted against the introduction of the tariffs. A majority of states representing at least 65 per cent of the population in the EU – or 14 of the bloc’s members states – would have been needed to stop the Commission’s plans. The Commission aims to put up additional tariffs of up to 35.3 per cent on electric cars from China.

When the issue was first raised, the German government was divided on the issue of possible punitive tariffs against Chinese electric cars, but ministries led by the Free Democrats insisted on taking a strong stance against them.