China-EU EV price talks nearing conclusion

Negotiations between China and the European Union regarding electric vehicle price commitments are in their final stages, although both sides acknowledge that further efforts are required to reach a resolution.

This update comes from a statement released by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Saturday, following a meeting between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic in France on June 3.

The MOFCOM statement highlighted that the discussions between Minister Wang and Commissioner Sefcovic were focused, candid, and in-depth on a range of urgent and important issues. These included the EU's ongoing anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs, China's anti-dumping probe on EU brandy, and export controls. Both parties urged their respective working teams to intensify preparations for this year's key China-EU economic and trade agenda.

Crucially, regarding the EV case, MOFCOM stated that professional and substantive discussions took place, significantly advancing the matter toward a proper resolution. The EU side reportedly proposed exploring new technical approaches in parallel, which China will now evaluate for feasibility from both legal and technical standpoints.

This meeting aligns with earlier reports, which indicated that Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao was slated to meet EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic on the sidelines of a WTO ministerial meeting in Paris in early June. A source familiar with the matter had previously stated that the two sides would engage in in-depth exchanges on the important topic of China-EU economic and trade cooperation and make preparations for China-EU high-level exchanges.

The progression of these talks signals a concerted effort by both China and the EU to navigate complex trade issues and foster continued economic cooperation, despite ongoing investigations and potential trade disputes. The focus now shifts to the evaluation of the proposed technical approaches and the final push towards a mutually agreeable solution for the EV price commitments.

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