Automotive News Europe — 2024-09-17
Automotive Industry
China's commerce minister visited Rome ahead of a key EU vote on the final duties to be imposed.
Italy backs tariffs proposed by the European Commission on Chinese exports of electric vehicles, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said, before he met China's commerce minister, Wang Wentao.
"We support the duties that the EU Commission proposes to protect the competitiveness of our companies," Tajani told daily Corriere della Sera in an interview. "We want to work on a trade plan based on equality, we demand equal access for our products in [Chinese] markets. Our companies must compete on equal terms," Tajani said.
Wang is visiting Europe for discussions on the EU's anti-subsidy case against China-made EVs as the EU prepares to vote on the higher tariffs.
During his visit to Rome, Wang said the EU investigation into Chinese electric vehicles was seriously affecting Chinese car companies' confidence in investing in Italy.
China is willing to promote mutual investment between auto companies from the two countries, the Chinese ministry cited Wang as saying, in a statement released on 17 September 2024. "But the EU probe into Chinese EVs has seriously affected the confidence of Chinese auto firms to invest in Italy, which is not in the long-term interests of Italy," Wang said.
Wang will hold talks with the European Commission's Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on 19 September 2024.
Italy initially supported tariffs in a non-binding vote of EU members in July 2024 but Industry Minister Adolfo Urso told Reuters last week that he expected a negotiated solution.
Italy remains a major automaker, home to brands including Fiat, part of the Stellantis group. It has also been seeking to woo Chinese automakers including Dongfeng and Chery Auto to open factories in order to raise vehicle output.
The European Commission is on the brink of proposing final tariffs of up to 35.3% on EVs built in China, on top of the EU's standard 10% car import duty.
The EU's 27 members are due to vote on the proposed final duties on 25 September 2024. They will be implemented by the end of October 2024 unless a qualified majority of 15 EU members representing 65% of the EU population votes against the levies.