Frankfurt. Germany will vote on Friday against introducing European Union (EU) tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
Germany abstained in a first non-binding vote in July on the European Commission’s proposal to impose the tariffs, but the industry has since pressured German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to vote against the measure on Friday.
The Commission’s proposal can be implemented unless a qualified majority of 15 EU members, representing 65 percent of the EU population, votes against it, which is a very high hurdle.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that France, Greece, Italy and Poland will vote in favor, which would be enough to push through the EU’s most far-reaching trade measures.
A German government spokesman declined to comment.
The Commission says the tariffs are necessary to counteract cheap loans, land, raw materials and other subsidies, and that the goal is a level playing field, not to lock out Chinese automakers, as the 100% tariff is likely to do. percent predicted by the United States.
German manufacturers, which made a third of their sales in China last year, oppose the tariffs. They are worried about retaliatory measures and fear a trade conflict with the country’s second largest trading partner.
IG Metall, Germany’s powerful union, and employee representatives from the country’s major automakers said in a statement Thursday that Germany should vote against the tariffs.
“We say unequivocally: tariffs are the wrong approach because they will not improve the competitiveness of the European car industry,” they said in a joint statement.
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– 2024-10-08 12:58:09
