Asked: Recently, China and the European Union held in-depth discussions under the trade and investment consultation mechanism on 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?
Answered: China and the EU have maintained continuous dialogue under the trade and investment consultation mechanism and reached multiple outcomes and consensus, which is conducive to maintaining a stable and balanced key trade partnership between China and the EU. In line with the principles of mutual respect and equal consultation, the two sides conducted intensive consultations on hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle trade, balancing economic and trade differences and each other's concerns.
Regarding hybrid vehicles, both sides emphasized and confirmed three basic principles.
First, respecting facts. According to Eurostat data, the EU imported 107,000 hybrid vehicles from China in 2024 and 302,000 in 2025. The two sides reached an upward arrangement on the basis of 2025, ensuring Chinese companies' export space and stable growth, and accommodating both sides' reasonable concerns based on reality.
Second, non-discrimination. No measure will specifically target Chinese products, still less discriminate against Chinese companies. The quota obtained by China will not be lower than that of any other source of imports for the EU side.
Third, compliance. Both sides confirmed that the trade arrangements should conform to WTO rules. China reserves all rights, including resorting to dispute settlement under the WTO framework and requesting trade compensation. These three basic principles run through the entire process and are a solid foundation for safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.
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. Accordingly, the EU side will continue to advance procedures related to corporate price undertakings in the electric vehicle case, as well as other review procedures.
On the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit, the above consensus has effectively safeguarded the practical interests of Chinese companies, avoided an escalation of China-EU trade frictions, and also provided both sides with a stable, predictable and sustainable trade and investment environment, which is conducive to the stable, balanced and healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations.
Website screenshot
Comments