China-EU EV price commitment talks ongoing, show progress: MOFCOM

Negotiations between China and the EU regarding a proposed price commitment plan related to tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) are ongoing, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday, calling on both sides to work in the same direction and jointly promote the achievement of consultation results.

The comments came in response to recent reports by German media, which suggested that both parties are close to reaching an agreement on prices regarding tariffs on Chinese EVs.    

"Properly resolving the EU's anti-subsidy case involving Chinese EVs is widely expected by various sectors in both China and the EU. Based on agreed principles, technical teams from both sides have engaged in intensive consultations and have made some progress thanks to their hard work," the spokesperson said.

Negotiations are still ongoing. China hopes that both sides will work in the same direction and address each other's legitimate concerns in a pragmatic and balanced manner, meet the expectations of various sectors, and jointly advance consultations toward positive outcomes, according to the spokesperson. 

"The continuing talks are a positive sign for both sides," Wang Yiwei, a professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

China has already made concessions and is looking for reciprocal guarantees from the European side. "Achieving an agreement will require concessions and efforts from both sides; one-sided actions won't suffice," Wang said, noting that details regarding Chinese EV imports are still to be finalized, including key issues such as market access, "The process may still take some time." 

China and the EU are reportedly close to reaching a solution to eliminate tariffs on Chinese EV imports into the bloc, according to Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, German broadcaster n-tv reported on November 22.