On October 4th, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce once again addressed the EU's initiation of a countervailing investigation into our electric vehicles in response to a journalist's question. A journalist asked, "On October 4th, the European Commission announced its decision to initiate a countervailing investigation into passenger electric vehicles imported from China. What is China's comment on this?"
The Ministry of Commerce stated that the EU initiated this countervailing investigation merely based on subjective speculation regarding the so-called subsidy programs and threats of harm, lacking sufficient evidence to support their claims, and not in compliance with the relevant rules of the World Trade Organization. China expresses strong dissatisfaction with this. The EU requested China to consult in a very short period without providing effective consultation materials, seriously infringing on China's rights.
In the recent 10th China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue, China had clearly stated that the investigation measures the EU intended to adopt are a blatant form of protectionism, masquerading under the guise of "fair trade." Such actions will severely disrupt and distort the global automotive industry supply chain, including that of the EU, and have a negative impact on Sino-European trade relations.
China urges the EU to take into consideration the stability of the global industrial and supply chains as well as the overall situation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU. The EU should use trade relief measures prudently and encourage deeper cooperation in the new energy industry, represented by electric vehicles, to create a fair, non-discriminatory, and predictable market environment for the joint development of the electric vehicle industry in China and Europe. China will closely monitor the EU's subsequent investigation procedures and firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
