EU demands model-specific prices from Chinese EVs to drop tariffs

The European Union has set stringent conditions for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to avoid punitive import tariffs of up to 35.3% by committing to minimum prices that fully offset the effects of Chinese state subsidies. Unlike China’s push for a broadly applicable minimum price, the EU requires model- and configuration-specific minimum prices based on the sales price to the first independent EU consumer. The EU also emphasizes that price commitments must be enforceable, prevent cross-compensation across vehicle categories, and may be harder to accept from companies selling multiple vehicle types, such as hybrids, whose imports have surged recently. The European Commission will assess each proposal individually, considering factors like sales volume commitments, duration, and Chinese automakers’ investment plans within the EU, aiming to balance trade enforcement with long-term industrial cooperation. This framework reflects ongoing trade tensions between Brussels and Beijing, with the EU defending tariffs as protection for domestic manufacturers while remaining open to dialogue. Chinese officials welcomed the guidance as a sign of non-discrimination and constructive