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BANGKOK (AP) \u2014 China and the European Union are open to holding talks on the EU\u2019s recent decision to sharply raise tariffs on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles, officials from both sides say.<\/p>\n
China\u2019s Commerce Ministry and Germany\u2019s economy minister said over the weekend that each side was willing to hold talks on the issue. Meanwhile, Chinese state media said Monday that Beijing is pushing for the EU to give up plans to sharply raise provisional tariffs<\/a> on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles by July 4.<\/p>\n Escalating a trade dispute over Beijing\u2019s subsidies that Brussels worries are hurting European automakers, the EU plans to impose provisional tariffs of 17.4% to 38.1% on EVs from China for four months starting on July 4. That’s on top of the 10% dutues for all imported EVs. They would apply to vehicles exported to Europe by both Chinese and foreign brands, including Tesla.<\/p>\n The European Commission, the EU\u2019s executive arm, said preliminary results from an investigation into Chinese EV subsidies showed the country\u2019s battery electric vehicle \u201cvalue chain\u201d benefits from \u201cunfair subsidization\u201d that hurts EU rivals.<\/p>\n Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a video conference with European Commission Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a notice Saturday on its website.<\/p>\n \u201cThe two sides agreed to launch consultations on the EU\u2019s anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe doors are open for discussions. And I hope that this message was heard,\u201d Germany’s economy and vice chancellor, Robert Habeck, said Sunday while on a visit to China.<\/p>\n China\u2019s Commerce Ministry on Thursday accused the EU of making unreasonable demands<\/a> in its investigation into imports of Chinese electric vehicles before it announced it was raising tariffs by as much as 38%.<\/p>\n Ministry spokesman He Yadong said the European side had demanded excessive amounts of information from Chinese automakers and then unfairly accused the Chinese companies of failing to cooperate.<\/p>\n Beijing said last week that it was opening an anti-dumping investigation<\/a> into pork exports from Europe. In announcing that, the Commerce Ministry did not mention EV tariffs. But the investigation into various pork products was widely seen as a response to the EU measures on electric cars.<\/p>\n The European side has said it wants to discuss the findings of its investigation with Chinese authorities to find ways to resolve the issues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n