Electric vehicles: the WTO examines the dispute between China and the EU

Geneva – The World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed on Friday to establish a panel of experts to examine a complaint from Beijing against the European Union’s decision to impose high tariffs on electric cars made in China.

These additional taxes, which can reach 35%, were announced last October following an EU investigation, which found that Chinese public subsidies threatened European car manufacturers.

On Friday, during a closed-door meeting of the WTO’s dispute settlement body, the Chinese representative deemed the EU’s measures incompatible with international trade rules, according to an official from the organization speaking on condition of anonymity.

However, the Chinese side emphasized that Beijing remained open to constructive dialogue and seeking a solution to the dispute within the framework of WTO rules.

The Union, for its part, firmly defended its position that its measures were fully justified, according to the official. (April 25, 2025)