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“The strongest, yet not the only, headwind is Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and how China positions itself on this issue,” he said. Dombrovskis spoke before high-level economic and trade talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. EU leaders have expressed concern about the bloc's growing trade deficit with China, which reached 396 billion euros last year. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China provides a market-oriented, law-based business environment for foreign companies. “So it’s very difficult for us to understand China’s stance on Russia’s war against Ukraine, as it breaches China’s own fundamental principles.”

Persons: Valdis Dombrovskis, ”, Dombrovskis, Ursula von der Leyen, Wang Wenbin, “ Organizations: BEIJING, Tsinghua University, EU, Ukraine, Lifeng, Tsinghua, Foreign Ministry, United Locations: China, Ukraine, Europe, EU, United States, Russian, Latvian

☆ German transport minister rejects punitive tariffs in EU's China EV probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An NIO ET7 car model is presented at the NIO House, the showroom of the Chinese premium smart electric vehicle manufacture NIO Inc. in Berlin, Germany August 17, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Sept 25 (Reuters) - German Transport Minister Volker Wissing has rejected possible punitive tariffs as a result of the European Commission's investigation into Chinese electric vehicle (EV) subsidies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this month announced a probe into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect EU automakers against China's EV imports, which the commissions says are benefiting from excessive state subsidies. China blasted the probe as protectionist and warned that it would damage economic relations, a concern shared by Germany's car industry. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, by contrast, has welcomed the step, saying action must be taken if massive breaches of competition rules are found by the EU probe.

Persons: Annegret, Volker Wissing, Wissing, Ursula von der, Robert Habeck, Miranda Murray, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Augsburger Allgemeine, Free Democrats, EU, China's EV, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, China

☆ Conservative women leaders make their entrance at the UN General Assembly
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Stephanie Fillion | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

United Nations CNN —When Jacinda Ardern brought her baby Neve to the United Nations for the 2018 General Assembly, then-New Zealand Prime Minister became an emblematic figure of modern women in politics. But women attending the annual top rendezvous of diplomacy have remained a minority, and the UN General Assembly this year is no different. “This perpetuates the cycle,” Susana Malcorra, a former foreign minister of Argentina and president of Global Women Leaders Voices, said. Of course, not all the women leaders attending UNGA are on the far side of the political spectrum. It was Čaputová’s last General Assembly as president of her country, as she announced a few months ago she won’t seek reelection in 2024 for personal reasons.

Persons: Jacinda Ardern, Neve, ” Susana Malcorra, Katalin Novak, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, “ Meloni, ” Richard Gowan, Katalin Novák, Viktor Orbán, it’s, Novák, Orban, Novak, ”, Mike Segar, Dina Boluarte, Peru’s, Pedro Castillo, Boluarte, UNGA, Zuzana, Maia Sandu, Nataša Pirc Musar, –, Sheikh Hasina, Mia Mottley, Bob Marley, Xiomara Castro, Ursula von der Leyen, Kristalina Georgieva, Ngozi, Natalie Portman Organizations: United Nations CNN, United Nations, Zealand, UN, Assembly, Global, Italian, Ukraine, Crisis, United Nations Security Council, Reuters, Security Council, Slovenia, Big Apple, European Commission, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization Locations: New York, Argentina, Italy, Ukraine, Slovakia, Moldova, Barbados, New York City, Honduras

☆ China's Nio calls for 'open attitude' amid EU subsidy probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese Nio electric car is seen at Nio's first European plant and power swap station in Biatorbagy, Hungary, September 16, 2022. "We hope that the market environment can be simpler, let the market be the market. The European Commission said China's share of EVs sold in Europe has risen to 8% and could reach 15% by 2025. Its gross margin was 1% in the second quarter, versus 13% in the same quarter last year. Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh Editing by Bernadette Baum and Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bernadett Szabo, William Li, Qin Lihong, EVs, Ursula von der Leyen, Li, Tesla, Nio, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Bernadette Baum, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, HK, European Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Biatorbagy, Hungary, Europe, China

"The move from fossil fuels to renewables is happening – but we are decades behind," Guterres said at the start of the one-day summit. "We must make up time lost to foot-dragging, arm-twisting and the naked greed of entrenched interests raking in billions from fossil fuels." Those not invited to speak were the world's two top polluters - the United States and China – though U.S. Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry was in the audience. "This climate crisis is a fossil fuel crisis," he said, drawing applause from the heads of state and others in the room. "Climate change is a top priority for my administration," Thavisin told the gathering, his country having recently created a climate change ministry.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Mike Segar, Guterres, John Kerry, China's U.N, William Ruto, Ruto, Gavin Newsom, Srettha Thavisin, Thavisin, Sultan Ahmed al, Jaber, COP28, Mia Mottley, Ursula von der Leyen, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Valerie Volcovici, Katy Daigle, Howard Goller Organizations: United Nations, General Assembly, REUTERS, Companies Allianz, General, United Arab Emirates, Thailand's, FINANCE, Security Council, Allianz, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Fund, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, COP28, Dubai, Brazil, Canada, Pakistan, South Africa, Tuvalu, United States, China, California, UAE, Barbados, Ukraine

☆ Analysis: EU, Italy talk tough on migration but action won't be easy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Alvise Armellini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] An Italian Coast Guard vessel carrying migrants rescued at sea passes between tourist boats, on Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy. Well over 10,000 migrants reached the Italian island - whose permanent population is about 6,000 - last week. Lampedusa sits in the Mediterranean between Tunisia, Malta and the larger Italian island of Sicily and is a first port of call for many migrants seeking to reach the EU. In 2020, it was discontinued as other EU nations balked at Italian requests to have them redistributed around the bloc. Other EU states have not commented publicly on the idea of a naval blockade, which Italy says would also need the consent of North African states.

Persons: Yara, Sophia, Giorgia Meloni, Lampedusa, Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, Ferruccio Pastore, Pastore, von der Leyen, Maurizio Ambrosini, Jan Strupczewski, Gavin Jones, Janet Lawrence Organizations: Italian Coast Guard, EU, European Union, European, International, European Forum, Research, Immigration, Human, Reuters, Dublin, University of Milan, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, North Africa, ROME, Tunisia, Malta, Sicily, Europe, Albania, Italian, Rome, Tirana, France, Austria, Dublin, EU, Germany, Brussels, repatriations

☆ Governments race to regulate AI tools
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

ITALY* Investigating possible breachesItaly's data protection authority plans to review artificial intelligence platforms and hire AI experts, a top official said in May. ChatGPT became available to users in Italy in April after being temporarily banned over concerns by the national data protection authority in March. The country's privacy watchdog said in June it had warned OpenAI not to collect sensitive data without people's permission. SPAIN* Investigating possible breachesSpain's data protection agency said in April it was launching a preliminary investigation into potential data breaches by ChatGPT. It has also asked the EU's privacy watchdog to evaluate privacy concerns surrounding ChatGPT.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ursula von der Leyen, CNIL, Ziv Katzir, Israel, ChatGPT, OpenAI, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Lawmakers, Joe Biden's, Beryl Howell, Alessandro Parodi, Amir Orusov, Kirsten Donovan, Mark Potter, Christina Fincher, Milla Nissi Organizations: REUTERS, Baidu, Microsoft, Markets Authority, Big Tech, Britain, HK, SenseTime, Israel Innovation Authority, EU, UNITED, . Security, International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations, U.S, IBM, Nvidia, Washington D.C, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Thomson Locations: AUSTRALIA, Australia, BRITAIN, CHINA, China, FRANCE, Italy, Hiroshima, Japan, IRELAND, ISRAEL, Israel, ITALY, JAPAN, U.S, SPAIN, New York, Washington, Gdansk

☆ Italy to pass tougher measures to deter migrant arrivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A man disembarked from Guardia di Finanza vessel is taken away on a stretcher after being rescued at sea, on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy, September 18, 2023. Under Italian law, migrants facing repatriation can be held if they cannot be immediately expelled. More than 127,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, according to government data, almost double the figure for the same period of 2022. Officials say a majority of migrants head to Italy for economic reasons and are therefore not eligible for asylum. ($1 = 0.9379 euros)Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yara, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Angelo Amante, Crispian Balmer, Christina Fincher Organizations: Guardia, REUTERS, Rights, European, Thomson Locations: Guardia di, Lampedusa, Italy, Rome, Brussels

☆ China EV adviser sees tech tie-ups resolving EU trade conflicts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Robotic arms assemble cars in the production line for Leapmotor's electric vehicles at a factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China, April 26, 2023. Meanwhile, European automakers can also leverage China's EV technologies to accelerate their transition to electrification, he added. Chinese EV maker Xpeng (9868.HK) in July struck a deal with Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) to jointly build two new models based on Xpeng's EV platform in China. Others, like LeapMotor (9863.HK) are also seeking to license its EV technologies to foreign partners. Chinese battery maker CATL (300750.SZ) has been ramping up its German plant and is building another site in Hungary.

Persons: Dong Yang, EVs, Ursula von der Leyen, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Commission, EV, China's Ministry of Machinery, BAIC Group, Gang, Munich IAA, European, Xpeng, HK, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China, Europe, Munich, Hungary

☆ China and EU Hold Talks on AI, Cross-Border Data Flow Amid Renewed Tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China and the European Union held talks on topics including artificial intelligence and cross-border data flows on Monday in Beijing, amid disputes over an EU probe into China's electric vehicle (EV) subsidies. The meeting comes as tensions between China and the EU are heightened after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an investigation into whether to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs to protect EU producers. The talks on Monday covered key issues including platforms and data regulation, AI, and cross-border flow of industrial data, China and the EU said. The European Commission conveyed concerns about "difficulties faced by EU companies in China to make use of their industrial data, as a result of the application of recent legislation." Both sides agreed to promote an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for the development of the digital economy, Xinhua said.

Persons: Zhang Guoqing, Vera Jourova, Ursula von der Leyen, Zhang, Ethan Wang, Ryan Woo, Meg Shen, Andrew Heavens Organizations: European Union, EU, China's, European Commission, Values, European, Xinhua Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, EU, Europe, Hong Kong

☆ China and EU hold talks on AI, cross-border data flow amid renewed tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An attendant walks past EU and China flags ahead of the EU-China High-level Economic Dialogue at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China June 25, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 18 (Reuters) - China and the European Union held talks on topics including artificial intelligence and cross-border data flows on Monday in Beijing, amid disputes over an EU probe into China's electric vehicle (EV) subsidies. The meeting comes as tensions between China and the EU are heightened after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an investigation into whether to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs to protect EU producers. The talks on Monday covered key issues including platforms and data regulation, AI, and cross-border flow of industrial data, China and the EU said. The European Commission conveyed concerns about "difficulties faced by EU companies in China to make use of their industrial data, as a result of the application of recent legislation."

Persons: Jason Lee, Zhang Guoqing, Vera Jourova, Ursula von der Leyen, Zhang, Ethan Wang, Ryan Woo, Meg Shen, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, EU, China's, European Commission, Values, European, Xinhua, Thomson Locations: China, EU, Beijing, Rights BEIJING, Europe, Hong Kong

☆ Italy to Pass Tougher Measures to Deter Migrant Arrivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Angelo AmanteROME (Reuters) - The Italian government, struggling with a surge in migrant arrivals, will pass measures on Monday to lengthen the time migrants can be held and to ensure more people who have no right to stay are repatriated, officials said. Under Italian law, migrants facing repatriation can be held if they cannot be immediately expelled. More than 127,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, according to government data, almost double the figure for the same period of 2022. Officials say a majority of migrants head to Italy for economic reasons and are therefore not eligible for asylum. As part of the package, it set aside around 20 million euros ($21.32 million) over two years.

Persons: Angelo Amante ROME, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Angelo Amante, Crispian Balmer, Christina Fincher Organizations: European Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, Rome, Brussels

☆ EU chief pledges migrant action plan in Italy's Lampedusa
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Yara Nardi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Yara Nardi Acquire Licensing RightsLAMPEDUSA, Italy Sept 17 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, which is struggling with a surge in migrant arrivals, and promised a 10-point EU action plan to help Italy deal with the situation. Nearly 126,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, almost double the figure by the same date in 2022. Von der Leyen was accompanied by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the car carrying them to Lampedusa's migrant reception centre was briefly blocked by locals protesting over the burden facing the island. The plan includes using the EU's external borders agency Frontex to identify migrants arriving in Italy and repatriate those not eligible for asylum. Frontex would also step up sea and aerial surveillance of migrant boats and help crack down on people-smugglers, von der Leyen said, adding that she had already spoken to several EU leaders about the plan and was confident of their support.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni's, Yara, Von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, von der Leyen, Frontex, Tony Colapinto, Gavin Jones, Louise Heavens Organizations: Italian, REUTERS, Sunday, Meloni, coastguard, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, European, Tunisia, Tunis, Europe

☆ Lampedusa: EU chief pledges action while visiting Italian island hit by soaring migrant arrivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Eve Brennan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has pledged action to help Italy’s crisis-hit island of Lampedusa during a visit on Sunday, after the island was left struggling to cope with an influx of migrants. Von der Leyen visited a migrant reception center on the island after the Italian Prime Minister called on European leaders to help more. The island has recently seen an uptick in migrant crossings, with Italian authorities saying Thursday that 7,000 people had arrived in just two days, prompting the local mayor and the United Nations refugee agency to warn the Italian island is becoming overwhelmed. The Italian prime minister and EU chief met Sunday to “offer a coordinated response by the Italian and European authorities,” according to von der Leyen. Meanwhile, von der Leyen championed legal pathways and humanitarian corridors as measures to counter “smugglers’ lies.”“We will offer migrants real alternatives through this humanitarian admission.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni, von der Leyen, “, von der, ” Lampedusa, Cecilia Fabiano, LaPresse, ” Meloni, ’, ”, Von der, Filippo Mannino, agency’s, San Marino, Chiara Cardoletti Organizations: CNN, EU, Italian, European Union, United Nations, European Commission, UN, UNHCR, International Organization for Migration Locations: Lampedusa, Italian, Africa, Europe, European, Italy, San, Tunisia, Libya

☆ EU chief to visit Italy's Lampedusa amid protests over migrant numbers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Yara Nardi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/7] A child looks on as migrants are seen inside the hotspot, on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy, September 16, 2023. Nearly 126,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, almost double the figure by the same date in 2022. Lampedusa has recently borne the brunt, with thousands of landings this week, more than the island's permanent population. ISLANDERS' PROTESTDozens of Lampedusa residents held protests on Saturday against a plan to build new tent camps to host migrants. Earlier this week, a five-month-old baby boy drowned off Lampedusa after a boat carrying migrants across the sea from North Africa capsized.

Persons: Yara, Ursula von der, Giorgia Meloni, Lampedusa, Von der, Eric Mamer, Gerald Darmanin, Nancy Faeser, Elisabeth Borne, BFM, Emmanuel Macron, Gianluca Semeraro, Ludwig Burger, Jan Strupczewski, Gus Trompiz, Toby Chopra, Mike Harrison Organizations: REUTERS, Italy's, European Union, EU, Twitter, ISLANDERS, Italian Coast Guard, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, Italian, North Africa, France, Germany, Rome, Europe, Milan, Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris

Von der Leyen’s spokesman, Eric Mamer, confirmed on Saturday that she would make the trip at the invitation of Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. About 7,000 migrants arrived on Lampedusa from Tunisia this week, and the Red Cross said that 3,800 remained on the island on Friday. A representative told the official that islanders have run out of patience after three decades of coping with arrivals. “Obviously, Italy and Europe can't welcome this massive influx of people, especially when these migrant flows are being managed by unscrupulous traffickers,” she said. As Meloni hosts von der Leyen in Lampedusa, Salvini on Sunday has invited French far-right leader Marine Le Pen to an annual League rally in the northern Italian town of Pontida.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Italy’s, Von der, Eric Mamer, Giorgia, “, ”, Matteo Salvini, Meloni, Salvini, Marine Le Organizations: MILAN, —, Cross, Media, Residents, SKY TG24, League, EU, der, Sunday Locations: Lampedusa, North Africa, Italian, Tunisia, Meloni, Europe, Italy, French, Pontida

☆ The National Book Awards Longlist
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Melissa Kirsch | More About Melissa Kirsch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One of the best birthday gifts I’ve ever received was a stack of four or five books, all published the year I was born. I hadn’t read John le Carré’s “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” but now I felt a connection to it; we’d both come into being at roughly the same time. The all-you-can-read buffet of books available begs a reader, especially a slow reader like me, to develop a strategy. This week, the National Book Foundation announced the longlist for the 2023 National Book Awards, presenting a crop of books on which a hungry reader could happily feast from now through the end of the year. (“Chain-Gang All-Stars,” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah and “Fire Weather,” by John Vaillant just moved to the top of my list.)

Persons: I’ve, John le Carré’s, ”, Ursula K, Le Guin, I’m, ’, Nana Kwame Adjei, John Vaillant Organizations: Book Foundation

CNN —Lampedusa has seen an influx of migrants with 7,000 people arriving in two days, prompting its mayor and the United Nations refugee agency to warn the Italian island is becoming overwhelmed. Alessandro Serranò/AFP/Getty ImagesMigrants from a migrant housing centre on Lampedusa are guided by a security official. The island of Lampedusa is struggling to cope with an influx of migrants. “The over 130 operators and volunteers of the Italian Red Cross are doing beyond the impossible to ensure basic necessities. However, Flavio Di Giacomo, from IOM, said the number of arrivals in Lampedusa now was much higher than before.

Persons: CNN — Lampedusa, Filippo Mannino, ” “, ” Mannino, agency’s, San Marino, Chiara Cardoletti, ” Cardoletti, Lampedusa, Alessandro Serranò, Gerard Darmanin, Darmanin, “, ”, ” Darmanin, Rosario Valastro, ” Valastro, Flavio Di Giacomo, Infrastructure Matteo Salvini, Giorgia Meloni’s, Ursula Von der Leyen Organizations: CNN, United Nations, RTL, UN, UNHCR, International Organization for Migration, Getty, European Union and, Red Cross Italy, Interior Ministry, Libyan Coast Guard, Italy’s, Infrastructure, Italy’s Foreign Press Association, EU, RAI Locations: Africa, Italy, San, Tunisia, Libya, AFP, Germany, Lampedusa, Ventimiglia, Menton, Great Britain, European Union and Great Britain, Europe, Meloni, Brussels

More than 120 small boats arrived in Lampedusa in the span of roughly 24 hours, bringing the number of people at the local reception center to 7,000 people at one point. But consecutive arrivals on the small island in a short period of time made things difficult to manage, Di Giacomo said. Most of those boarding smugglers' boats for Europe are young men and unaccompanied minors, though women and children are seen but in smaller numbers. As soon as the weather improved, they launched more than 100 small iron boats from Tunisian beaches carrying between 30 to 40 people. Migrants pay smugglers between 1,500 and 5,000 Tunisian dinars (roughly $500-$1,600) for a spot on the dangerous boats.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Kais Saied, Flavio Di Giacomo, Di Giacomo, Daniel, “ It's, ”, Chris Borowski, Saied's, Giacomo, Ursula von der Leyen, It's, ” Abderrahim, Saied, doesn’t, “, ___ Frances D'Emilio Organizations: Union, Italy's Interior Ministry, International Organization for, WHO, IOM, Border, Coast Guard Agency, Global, Transnational, EU Locations: BARCELONA, Spain, Lampedusa, Tunisia, Italy, North Africa, Italian, Europe, Ukraine, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya, Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, Sfax, Tunisian, African, Greece, Rome

Still, it could hurt perceptions of Chinese EV makers as they expand abroad, Bernstein analysts said in a client note. Nio and Geely declined to comment on the EU probe, while BYD, Xpeng and SAIC did not respond to requests for comment. Shares in European carmakers were also among the biggest fallers on the euro zone stock index (.STOXXE50) in early trading. STRAINED RELATIONSThe anti-subsidy probe, initiated unusually by the European Commission and not from any industry complaint, comes amid broader diplomatic strains between the EU and China. It accounted for 40.25% of EV exports from China between January and April 2023.

Persons: Annegret, Ursula von der Leyen, Bernstein, BYD, CATL, Cui Dongshu, EVs, Donny Kwok, Brenda Goh, Ryan Woo, Anne Marie Roantree, Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, China, EV, EU, European, Ministry of Commerce, Eurasian Group, Reuters Graphics, Reuters Graphics Hong Kong, HK, Geely, SAIC, BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes, European Commission, China Passenger Car Association, EVs, for Strategic, Internal Studies, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Europe, China, SHANGHAI, BEIJING, Beijing, EU, Brussels, Southeast Asia, Reuters Graphics Hong, Shanghai, Xpeng, Shenzhen, SZ, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, U.S, Hong Kong

☆ China denounces Europe probe of EVs as 'naked protectionist' act
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A Nio ET5 electric vehicle is displayed at the Chinese EV maker's showroom in Shanghai, China, February 3, 2023. The investigation launched on Wednesday will determine if punitive tariffs are warranted to protect EU producers from what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described as a "flood" of cheaper Chinese EV imports. "It is a naked protectionist act that will seriously disrupt and distort the global automotive industry and supply chain, including the EU, and will have a negative impact on China-EU economic and trade relations." The probe, initiated by the European Commission and not from any industry complaint, will further irritate a tense relationship with China partly strained by trade and investment imbalances. Reporting by Ryan Woo; additional reporting by Ellen Zhang; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, Ursula von der Leyen, Ryan Woo, Ellen Zhang, Clarence Fernandez, Jamie Freed Organizations: EV maker's, REUTERS, Rights, European, EV, EU, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, European Union, EU

Analysts said the probe could slow capacity expansion and the capital spending cycle of China's battery suppliers, although the move should not pose a big downside risk for Chinese EVs. Hong Kong shares of market leader BYD fell more than 3%. Nio and Geely declined to comment on the EU probe, while BYD, Xpeng and SAIC did not respond to requests for comment. GROWING MARKET SHAREEU officials believe Chinese EVs are undercutting the prices of local models by about 20% in the European market, piling pressure on European automakers to produce lower-cost electric vehicles. It accounted for 40.25% of EV exports from China between January and April 2023, up from 36.5% in 2022.

Persons: Angelika Warmuth, Ursula von der Leyen, BYD, CATL, der Leyen, Li Qiang, Cui Dongshu, EVs, Donny Kwok, Brenda Goh, Ryan Woo, Anne Marie Roantree, Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed Organizations: BYD Company, REUTERS, China, EV, European Commission, EU . European, Analysts, HK, Geely, SAIC, EU, Chamber of Commerce, China Passenger Car Association, Center, Strategic, Internal Studies, Volvo, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, Europe, HONG KONG, SHANGHAI, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Xpeng, Shenzhen, SZ, China, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, New Delhi, Brussels, U.S

☆ China auto industry body 'firmly opposes' EU probe on Chinese EV subsidies, urges objectivity
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Employees work on the assembly line of C11 electric SUV at a factory of Chinese EV startup Leapmotor on April 26, 2023 in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province of China. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesThe European Union should "objectively" consider China's electric vehicle industry and its highly competitive industrial supply chain, the head of a China automobile industry body on Thursday. This comes a day after the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, unexpectedly launched an "anti-subsidy" investigation into China's EV makers. "The EU should view the development of China's electric vehicle industry objectively, rather than arbitrarily employing unilateral economic and trade tools to restrict the development or increase operating costs of China's electric vehicle products in Europe," he added. He added that Chinese cars exported to Europe are generally retailing at nearly double the prices in mainland Chinese markets.

Persons: Cui Dongshu, Cui, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: Visual China, Getty, European Commission, European Union, China's, China Passenger Car Association, CNBC, of Locations: Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China, Europe, Strasbourg, EU, U.S, Beijing

The United States also offers tax credits of up to $7,500 for buyers of new electric cars, and several more for manufacturers of EVs and EV components. And each government views the support they provide as merely also doing "whatever it takes" to keep their own industries competitive. The mere threat of a probe into China's subsidies might actually be enough to slow the pace of imports from China while allowing sales of European cars to pick up further. Shares of major European car producers have heavily lagged U.S. and China EV rivalsIn that way, the EU Commissioner will have provided a valuable service to Europe's manufacturers without needing to actually dig too deeply into China's subsidy practices. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Gavin Maguire, Josie Kao Organizations: EU Commission, European EV, European Union, EV, United, Volkswagen, BMW, Renault, China EV, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Europe, Beijing, European, United States, Germany, China, EU

☆ 'Blatantly protectionist': China sharply rebukes EU probe on Chinese EV subsidies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesChina has accused the European Union of "blatant protectionism" after its executive arm unexpectedly launched an "anti-subsidy" investigation into China's electric vehicle makers. The Chinese Commerce Ministry urged dialogue to safeguard the interests of Chinese companies and commit to global efforts to address climate change and achieve carbon neutrality. If the EU finds harm from Chinese subsidies, Brussels is likely to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs despite the risk of political and economic backlash from Beijing. "If the EU finds harm from Chinese subsidies, Brussels is likely to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs despite the risk of political and economic backlash from Beijing." EU members are demanding the regional bloc shield European carmakers from Chinese EVs that they say are heavily subsidized by the Chinese government.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: Visual China, Getty, European Union, Chinese Commerce Ministry, CNBC, EU, Beijing . Eurasia, of, Eurasia Group Locations: Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China, EU, Brussels, Beijing, U.S, Europe, Strasbourg

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