In EV trade row with EU, China calls on Spain to help ease ‘anxiety’

Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao levels fresh accusations of trade protectionism at 29th meeting of the China-Spain Joint Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee

Comments come as opinions are split across the European Union over the bloc’s probe of subsidies in China’s electric vehicle sector

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Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao (right) and Spanish Minister for Economy, Trade and Enterprise Carlos Cuerpo sit together at the 29th China-Spain Joint Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 5:25pm, 4 Jun 2024

China has condemned Brussels’ investigation into its electric vehicles as trade protectionism and expects that Spain will be proactive in encouraging the European Union to engage in dialogue, while the Spanish side is also seeking opportunities for cooperation in vehicles and renewable energy between the two nations, according to its commerce ministry.

The European Union’s investigation of Chinese EVs in the name of “excessive production capacity” is typical trade protectionism, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao was reported as saying by the official Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.

“It’s not [a matter of] excess capacity but [rather] anxiety,” he said. “We hope that the EU and China can address each other’s concerns through dialogue and communication.”

The minister said China wants to see Spain encourage the European bloc to maintain an open stance on green new energy.

In October, the EU launched an anti-subsidy probe into China’s EVs, alleging that China is flooding the European market with cheap government-subsidised electric cars, at the detriment to local manufacturers.

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Last week, the EU said it would postpone a decision on whether to impose punitive tariffs on China’s electric cars until after parliamentary elections on June 9.