China auto group ‘strongly dissatisfied’ with EU anti-subsidy tariffs

SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) – The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) is “strongly dissatisfied” with anti-subsidy tariffs proposed by the European Union, the industry group said in a statement on Saturday.

Manufacturers cooperated with the European Commission’s investigation into Chinese subsidies, but the inquiry ignored facts and pre-screened results, CAAM said in a post on Chinese messaging app WeChat.

The EU imposed tariffs of up to 37.6% on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles from Friday, with a four-month window during which tariffs are provisional, with intense negotiations expected between the two sides.

“CAAM deeply regrets this and finds it firmly unacceptable,” he said.

The provisional duties of between 17.4% and 37.6% without backdating are intended to prevent what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said is a threat of a flood of cheap Chinese electric vehicles built with state subsidies.

The EU’s anti-subsidy investigation still has almost four months to go.

(Reporting by David Kirton and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Toby Chopra)