European leaders have struggled to formulate a unified Sino-European strategy, with some states echoing U.S. calls for a complete disassociation — or decoupling — while others have preferred a softer, derisking approach.
China has urged France to take on "an active role" to push the European Commission towards a solution acceptable to both the European and Chinese electric vehicle industries, Beijing's commerce ministry said on Monday, citing its minister.
Wang Wentao, in a meeting with French junior trade minister Sophie Primas in Shanghai on Sunday, reiterated the European Union's investigation into China's EVs is a major concern and has "seriously hindered" China-EU auto industry cooperation.
The EU launched an anti-subsidy investigation into imports of Chinese-made battery EVs last year and in October voted for tariffs on those vehicles.
China in the past year has launched its own investigations into European pork and dairy, and imposed temporary anti-dumping measures on imports of brandy from the EU early this month.
Persons:
Wang Wentao, Sophie Primas
Organizations:
European Commission, French, Sunday, EU
Locations:
China, France, Shanghai, EU