Brussels continues with tariffs on Chinese cars after reluctant countries fail to stop them

BRUSSELS 4 Oct. () –

The European governments have been unable this Friday to add a sufficient majority either for or against the tariffs on electric cars imported from China, which returns to the European Commission the power to adopt in the coming days the final decision that makes them permanent the tariffs that the EU has provisionally imposed since last July.

In the vote, only five countries have voted against Brussels’ proposal to make the levies permanent, including Germany, which fears the consequences of a trade war with Beijing. Furthermore, as various diplomatic sources have informed Europa Press, Spain and eleven other countries have abstained; while ten others have voted in favor.

To block Brussels’ decision to go ahead with the tax required a block of at least 15 member states representing 65% of the population.

The experts of the Twenty-seven have met in Brussels to put to a vote the formal proposal of the Community Executive to consolidate the provisional tariffs, on which the community rules require a decision to be made on whether they become permanent before October 30.