Italy backs European Commission’s proposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports

Italy has extended its support to the European Commission's proposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in an interview on Monday, September 16, before meeting China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.

Tajani asserted, "We support the duties that the EU Commission proposes to protect the competitiveness of our companies."

Minister Wang Wentao has visited Rome for discussions over the European Commission's proposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. He held talks with Tajani, but no statement from the Italian foreign ministry made direct reference to EV tariffs.

Tajani said they discussed protecting intellectual property, trade in the agri-food sector, and investments.

Wang will have another round of discussions with the European Commission's Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on September 19.

Italy, a leading country in automobile manufacturing and home to big brands like Fiat, part of the Stellantis Group, initially supported EU tariffs on vehicles in a non-binding vote in July, but Industry Minister Adolfo Urso told Reuters last week that he expected a negotiated solution.

The European Commission is very close to implementing tariffs of up to 35.3 per cent on electric vehicles built in China, in addition to the EU's standard 10 per cent duty on imported cars. In early July, the European Union announced the proposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, alleging injuries caused by unfair trade subsidies on the domestic car market.

The final duties are scheduled for October 30, subject to a vote by the EU's 27 states.