China's Ministry of Commerce spokesperson stated on the 12th that China and the EU have maintained continuous dialogue under the trade and investment consultation mechanism, reaching multiple consensus outcomes that are conducive to maintaining a stable and balanced key trade partnership between China and Europe.
Both sides, adhering to the principles of mutual respect and equal consultation, conducted intensive consultations on hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle trade, balancing economic and trade differences and each other's concerns.
A reporter asked: Recently, China and the EU held in-depth discussions under the trade and investment consultation mechanism regarding hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle trade, avoiding an escalation of the situation. Some foreign media have speculated about details such as the quantity of hybrid vehicle trade arrangements. What is China's comment on this?
The spokesperson said that regarding hybrid vehicles, both sides emphasized and confirmed three basic principles.
First, respect facts. According to Eurostat data, the EU imported 107,000 hybrid vehicles from China in 2024 and 302,000 in 2025. Both sides reached an upward arrangement based on 2025 figures, ensuring Chinese enterprises' export space and stable growth, and accommodating both sides' reasonable concerns based on industrial realities.
Second, non-discrimination. No measures will specifically target Chinese products, nor will they discriminate against Chinese enterprises. The quota obtained by China will not be lower than that of any other import source of the EU.
Third, compliance. Both sides confirmed that trade arrangements should comply with WTO rules. China reserves all rights to resort to dispute settlement and demand trade compensation under the WTO framework. These three basic principles run throughout and are a solid foundation for safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
The spokesperson stated that regarding electric vehicles, China and the EU achieved a "soft landing" in the anti-subsidy case in January this year, and the EU side issued general guidance documents on price undertakings. In this regard, the EU side will continue to advance procedures related to enterprise price undertakings in the electric vehicle case, as well as other review procedures.
The spokesperson pointed out that on the basis of mutual benefit, the above consensus effectively safeguards the practical interests of Chinese enterprises, avoids the escalation of China-EU trade frictions, and also provides both sides with a stable, predictable, and sustainable trade and investment environment, contributing to the stable, balanced, and healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations.
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