United States electric vehicle, or EV, maker Tesla is challenging the European Union’s decision to slap hefty import tariffs on China-made electric autos.
The legal action by the company, which is owned by technology guru Elon Musk, is similar to court challenges launched last week by German automaker BMW and Chinese carmakers, including BYD Auto, SAIC Motor, and Geely. Chinese industry body the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products has also launched a legal challenge in the EU’s courts. And China’s government has filed a complaint about the bloc’s tariffs with the World Trade Organization.
The European Court of Justice confirmed Tesla’s legal challenge on Monday.
Olof Gill, the EU’s trade spokesperson, told Agence France-Presse: “We take note of these cases and we look forward to defending ourselves in court as necessary.”
Tesla’s legal challenge is in response to the EU introducing tariffs at the end of October of 7.8 percent on Tesla’s China-made vehicles. The bloc has also set tariffs of up to 35.3 percent on other China-made EVs. The new tariffs come on top of a 10 percent standard import tariff that was already in place for electric vehicle imports into the EU.
The bloc said it introduced the China-specific tariffs in response to what it says are unfair subsidies that include low-interest loans, cheap land, and supplier discounts, claims China has strongly denied.
Mathew Matthews
Article URL : http://www.china.org.cn/business/2025-01/29/content_117690399.htm