Britain Not Following EU with EV Tariffs

LONDON (Reuters) – British trade minister Jonathan Reynolds announced that the UK will not impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports as the European Union has done. This decision comes as local businesses have not raised any complaints requiring investigation by the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA).

Earlier this month, the EU member states supported tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese-made EVs to address what is perceived as unfair subsidies from Beijing. However, China denies any claims of unfair competition.

Reynolds stated that he keeps trade practices under careful analysis and mentioned that industry has not requested a referral on this matter, reinforcing his focus on ensuring open export markets for UK producers.

He also commented on UK-China relations, noting that they are not as strong as previously thought, despite the lack of significant trade links. Instead, he emphasized prioritizing trade discussions with India and the Gulf Cooperation Council, with talks expected to resume soon after a five-month hiatus due to elections.

"We've got a new round of talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council very soon, maybe as soon as next week. And similarly with India, that's a priority as well," Reynolds said. He did not set specific deadlines for these negotiations but affirmed their significance.