China has invited an EU crew to go to for additional talks on the bloc’s tariffs on Chinese language electrical automobiles, regardless of the failure of practically three weeks of negotiations, based on the Chinese language Ministry of Commerce.
The ministry mentioned on Saturday that from Sept. 20, Chinese language and European Union representatives held eight rounds of intense talks over 20 days and made “important progress” in some areas.
“But regrettably, the EU has did not positively reply to issues regarding the core considerations of Chinese language and EU industries,” it mentioned.
“With main variations between the 2 sides, the consultations have been unable to supply a mutually acceptable answer.”
Nevertheless, China remained “dedicated and honest in direction of discovering options by means of dialogue and session,” it mentioned, including that it hoped an EU technical crew may go to China and prepare for talks to “attain a correct answer as quickly as attainable.”
The talks started after Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Fee commerce commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis agreed on Sept. 19 to advance worth enterprise negotiations to discover a answer acceptable to either side.
Requested on Saturday about stories that the bloc was conducting separate worth enterprise negotiations with particular person firms, the ministry mentioned such motion would undermine belief.
“If the EU engages with any particular person firm in separate worth enterprise negotiations whereas the China-EU consultations are beneath means, it’s going to undermine the muse and mutual belief for negotiation, thus disrupting the bilateral consultations and holding again the general progress,” the ministry mentioned.
“China hopes the EU will show ample sincerity, take the business’s core considerations critically and attain an answer acceptable to all events primarily based on the continuing consultations.”
Earlier this month, EU members voted to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese language-made electrical automobiles, drawing swift criticism from Beijing.
Tariffs shall be imposed by Oct. 31 for 5 years, following the closed-door vote of the bloc’s 27 member states. The vote was triggered by an anti-subsidy investigation, which discovered that Chinese language-made EVs have been distorting the European market.
China’s Ministry of Commerce slammed the choice, saying “China will take all measures to firmly safeguard the pursuits of Chinese language firms.”
Automotive firms from Germany and China have been additionally essential, with Mercedes-Benz calling the tariffs a “mistake,” and Volkswagen urging the fee to resolve the problem with Beijing earlier than the tariffs go into impact.
Chinese language carmaker Geely mentioned the choice would “probably hinder EU-China financial and commerce relations.”
The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU additionally expressed “deep disappointment” with what it known as “the EU’s adoption of protectionist commerce measures.”
China has rejected EU recommendations that it has backed each stage of the EV provide chain, saying its firms are aggressive due to their prowess and innovation.
Beijing has additionally threatened the EU automobile business and began investigations into European brandy and dairy exports.
Learn the full story at SCMP.