No 10 leaves option open to impose Chinese EV tariffs if UK joins EU scheme
No 10 considers imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs if UK joins EU scheme, prompting Chinese warning of discrimination.
theguardian.com1 min read
Intelligence analysis by Qwen 2.5 (3B)
No 10 may impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles if the UK joins the EU's Made in Europe scheme, raising concerns from China.
The UK government is considering putting tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles if they join the EU's Made in Europe scheme. China is worried this could be unfair.
Analysis
{"
EU's Industrial Accelerator Act and Made in Europe Scheme":"> The EU's Industrial Accelerator Act, known as the Made in Europe scheme, aims to curb subsidised Chinese imports by giving EU-made products preferential treatment. The UK and other countries like Norway are worried about being left at a disadvantage if excluded from the scheme.","
UK's Position and Concerns":"> No 10 has left the door open to imposing tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles as part of the Made in Europe package. The government has been desperate to be included in the scheme, fearing billions of pounds of trade in the car industry could be lost if the UK is locked out of supply chains in the EU.","
Chinese Response":"> The Chinese embassy in London has warned against any discriminatory practices involving tariff hikes or restrictive measures on Chinese products. They have expressed serious concern to the UK side regarding the reports in question."}
Key points
- No 10 considers imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs if UK joins EU scheme
- UK government desperate to be included in EU's Made in Europe scheme
- Chinese warning of discriminatory practices
The Upside
The UK could benefit from the scheme by preventing cut-price Chinese models from flooding the market, which could help UK-based manufacturers.
The Downside
Tariffs could push up prices for consumers and harm British manufacturers trying to sell vehicles to China in case of an escalating trade war.
