China says 'doing its best' to push for tariff negotiations with EU

BEIJING, Feb 20, 2025 – China is “doing its best” to push for talks with the European Union over tariffs imposed on Chinese-made electric vehicles, a commerce ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

The comments come nearly four months after the EU raised import duties to as high as 45.3% in October following an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese firms.

"He Yadong, a spokesperson for China’s commerce ministry, said, 'China has been doing its best to push for negotiations with the EU. It is hoped that the EU will take notice of the call from industry and promote bilateral investment cooperation through dialogue and consultation,'" Reuters reported.

The increased tariffs were implemented after the European Commission launched an investigation to determine if Chinese manufacturers benefited from preferential grants, financing, land allocations, and access to batteries and raw materials at below-market prices.

In addition to pressing for tariff talks, China has initiated its own investigations into imports of several European products, including brandy, dairy, and pork. When asked about the progress of these cases, He noted that China’s anti-dumping probe into Europe’s pork products and its anti-subsidy investigation into the EU dairy trade were still ongoing. "We will conduct the investigation in an open and transparent manner in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations and World Trade Organization rules," he added.

China’s commerce ministry recently extended its anti-dumping investigation into EU brandy imports by three months, with the new deadline set for April 5.

The push for renewed negotiations comes as both sides continue to assess and recalibrate their trade policies amid broader economic tensions. While the EU maintains its stance on protecting its domestic industries, Chinese officials emphasize the need for dialogue to resolve disputes and foster closer bilateral investment cooperation.

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