Bloomberg: EU weighs safeguards to reduce Chinese hybrid imports

The European Union intends to use trade safeguards to halve imports of hybrid cars from China, Bloomberg reported on October 10, citing people familiar with the discussions.

According to the agency, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told European officials that the mechanism would be discussed with the bloc’s leaders the following week. Tariff-rate quotas are among the possible tools.

If the initiative wins agreement within the EU, restrictions could take effect in December. Bloomberg describes the timing and mechanism as under discussion rather than already adopted.

The report followed Sefcovic’s talks with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing on October 8 and 9. China’s commerce ministry said the sides had reached a shared understanding on trade in hybrid vehicles.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun had earlier warned that Beijing would take necessary steps to protect its companies’ legitimate interests if Europe imposed restrictions. The current discussions concern how a possible reduction in shipments to the EU market might be implemented.