China has rejected a request from the European Union for voluntary curbs on hybrid car exports to the bloc, adding a new flashpoint to trade talks between Brussels and Beijing as the two sides seek to avoid a wider trade conflict, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing two diplomats briefed on the discussions.
Earlier, the had asked China to voluntarily limit shipments of China-made vehicles to Europe, according to the report.
The development comes as EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič travels to Beijing for two days of talks with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.
The negotiations aim to address the EU’s widening trade deficit with China, with of relatively low-cost electric and hybrid vehicles emerging as a key issue.
The EU has been increasingly concerned about the rapid growth of Chinese vehicle sales in the
Chinese carmakers captured a record share of nearly 12% of Europe’s new-car market in August and accounted for roughly one in three plug-in hybrid sales in the region, Bloomberg reported.
Therefore, the surge has put hybrid vehicles alongside electric cars at the centre of the EU’s concerns over growing automotive exports.
The is now considering safeguard measures that could restrict imports following a surge in entering the European market.
One option under consideration is a tariff-rate quota, under which imports would be allowed up to a specified volume, while vehicles brought in above that threshold could face additional tariffs, Bloomberg reported.
The proposed restrictions would be time-limited, said the Bloomberg report.
The EU’s initial approach was to seek a negotiated solution rather than immediately impose new trade restrictions.
The European Commission had sought China’s agreement to voluntarily limit hybrid exports to .
The Financial Times on 17 September 17 reported that could face higher tariffs if it did not agree to such restrictions.
The commission hopes to get Beijing to accept a unilateral EU mechanism to cap hybrid imports, rather than having voluntarily restrict exports, according to FT.
The issue is expected to feature prominently in the latest round of EU-China trade talks in Beijing, which are starting on Thursday.
Šefčovič and his team are scheduled to hold two days of negotiations with Chinese officials, with discussions aimed at reducing the trade imbalance without triggering a broader confrontation, according to The Guardian.
The outcome could influence whether the European Commission proceeds with its proposed safeguard measures.
The commission is also reportedly viewing hybrids as a potential test case. If the measures are effective, similar tools could potentially be considered for other sectors where the sees significant trade imbalances, according to Bloomberg.
For the EU, the continued growth in Chinese vehicle exports is adding pressure to address concerns over an uneven trading relationship.
China has a large trade surplus with Europe, and the hybrid-car dispute could therefore risk becoming part of a broader trade dispute.
